Choosing an executor for estate administration
It isn’t always easy to know who to trust. However, hopefully by the time a person is old enough to think seriously about writing a will, one will have ongoing relationships with people who are concerned with one’s best interests. From that pool of people, a person writing a will in British Columbia must choose an executor to take on the onerous task of estate administration.
Not everyone is suited to an obligation of this magnitude, so it is important to choose wisely. Naturally, one will want to select someone who can be completely trusted to do the job fairly and properly. Ideally, that person should be able to get along with the beneficiaries. Interpersonal relationships are also crucial if one is appointing co-executors; two quarrelling siblings may not be the best choice.
Time considerations are very important. Administering an estate can potentially take months, or even years, to complete, depending on the complexity of the estate. The executor will need to have the time to do the job, live close enough to attend to matters efficiently, and should be expected to live long enough to see the job through.
While not always an easy task, estate administration is very important, and to choose an executor is to show great trust and faith in an individual. It may be helpful for the executor to know that he or she does not have to handle the job alone. An experienced British Columbia lawyer can use his or her knowledge of estate law to help at any point during the process.
Source: sunlife.ca, “How to choose an executor“, Susan Yellin, Accessed on April 24, 2017