Role of an Executor in Canada

Responsibilities

• An executor plays an important role.Man image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  If you have been named an executor in Canada, you have the important responsibility of finding the estate's assets, notifying the government, paying bills, canceling the driver's license and charge accounts, closing bank accounts, paying taxes and carrying out the final wishes of the deceased. If the deceased has requested a certain type of burial or cremation, it is your role as executor to carry out those directions out to the letter.
  
  

Identify Yourself

• The laws must be followed.Legal Law Justice image by Stacey Alexander from Fotolia.com
  
  In Canada, you must provide personal identification, an original copy of the will and several copies of the death certificate to prove that you are the true executor.
  
  

Compensation

• Receiving compensation for being an executor is your right.money makes money image by Andrey Andreev from Fotolia.com
  
  In Canada, an executor has the legal right to accept a specific percentage of the estate in return for his duties as executor. The lawyer handling the estate will advise you what that percentage will be. You can decline this fee, and then those fees would be included in the remainder of the estate to be distributed to heirs.