There are two primary reasons why individuals seek legal guidance concerning the role of the executor as it pertains to Texas estate administration. First, individuals who have been tasked with fulfilling this role may benefit from knowledgeable and experienced support as they execute their duties. Second, individuals who are concerned that the executor for a loved one’s estate is failing to properly execute their duties may have questions about how to remove an executor and/or how to pursue justice for consequences of that failure that are already playing out.
In either scenario, it is important to understand what the role of the executor in Texas estate administration is meant to entail and how the interests of both the deceased and those who have interests pertaining to the deceased’s estate can impact an executor’s authority, responsibilities, rights, and risk of liability.
Setting an Estate’s Affairs in Order
The primary responsibility of an executor is to ensure that an estate’s affairs have been sufficiently attended to before the probate process is concluded. These are some of the duties that executors typically engage in:
- Settling any outstanding debts that the deceased owed upon their death
- Maintaining any property that must be managed before it can be distributed
- Ensuring that any wishes detailed in the deceased’s will are honored
- Notifying creditors and government agencies of the deceased’s passing
- Distributing assets to beneficiaries
- Managing any taxes owed by the estate
- Representing the estate in court, whenever necessary
- Disposing of any property that is not distributed or sold
An executor’s duties must be attended to in precise fashion or they could potentially be held personally liable for any missteps that they make which influence the rights of creditors and/or beneficiaries.
Mismanagement of estate assets, a failure to attend to probate-related responsibilities, and evidence of incompetence are some of the reasons why individuals who are invested in the probate process may seek to hold an executor liable for not discharging their duties properly. It bears repeating that both executors and beneficiaries, therefore, may need to seek legal guidance concerning the role of an executor at some point before probate has concluded.
Connect with a Client-Focused Dallas, TX Estate Administration Lawyer for Guidance and Support
Whether you have been tasked with serving as an executor on behalf of someone’s estate or you have concerns about an executor’s performance, know that you can benefit from knowledgeable guidance at any time. Since 1926, the reputable team of Dallas, TX estate administration lawyers at Norris & Weber has been representing the interests of Texans in both straightforward and complex estate administration and probate matters. It would be our pleasure to assist you with your related needs as well.
Our firm offers risk-free legal consultations because we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to research their rights and options in a pressure-free environment. If you’re in need of legal support at this time, please call our office at (214) 521-1520 or submit a contact form on our firm’s website to schedule your confidential case evaluation. We look forward to speaking with you.