How to Be a Good Executor of a Will or Estate – Terry Franklin Featured in AARP Article

The wave of people prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic to write their wills is creating yet another wave in estate planning: all the people being asked to one day put those wills into effect. They are the executors – the relatives or friends designated in a will as the final administrator of a deceased person’s estate.

"Being an executor is not an easy job," partner Terry Franklin told AARP. "The paperwork can exceed your worst expectations. The human side can be difficult, too: You may need to pacify impatient heirs or mediate domestic squabbles. Taking on this role is a true sign of devotion. And although you might get paid for the work, it is primarily a labor of love."

Terry added that if you’re asked to be an executor, it’s okay to say no. "If you don’t feel up to all these responsibilities, you’re allowed to decline. No one can force you to be an executor, and a court can’t appoint you to the role without your consent. Saying no, when someone asks you to be her executor, can be as simple as, ‘I’m flattered that you would ask, but I don’t think it is a good idea.’"

Read the full AARP article here.