Executor Checklist: What to Do in the First 90 Days

If you’ve just been named executor, you don’t have to solve everything this week. A good executor checklist breaks the first 90 days into stages: protect things in the first week, gather documents and notify people in the first month, then build a clear record of accounts, debts and expenses. This guide walks through each stage in plain language so you know what usually comes first and what can wait.

One note before we start: this is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Estate and probate rules vary by state and change over time, so check with an estate attorney, an accountant or your local probate court about your situation.

Days 1 to 7: pause and protect

The first week is about keeping things safe, not settling anything. Grief comes first, and very little has to happen in the next few days.

• Find the will and any funeral wishes, if you can. Look in a home safe, a filing cabinet or with the person’s attorney.
• Secure the home and car. Lock up, keep valuables out of sight, and make sure someone checks on an empty house.
• Care for pets and plants, and clear out perishable food.
• Keep paying essential bills like utilities and insurance on the home, but hold off on paying debts or giving away belongings.
• Start a simple log. Write down who you spoke to, when and what they said. You will be glad you did.

A common mistake is handing out keepsakes or selling things right away. Until you know what the will says and what the court requires, ask your attorney before anything leaves the house.

Days 8 to 30: gather and notify

This is the busiest stretch. You are collecting the paperwork the estate will run on and letting the right people know.

• Order certified copies of the death certificate. Banks, insurers and government offices often each want their own. The funeral home can usually help you order them.
• Meet with an estate attorney if the estate will go through probate, or to find out whether it needs to. The attorney can explain how your state appoints an executor (sometimes called a personal representative) and what paperwork gives you authority to act.
• Notify the key offices. That usually includes Social Security, employers or pension plans, life insurance companies, banks and the person’s financial advisor. Your attorney can tell you about any notices your state requires, like notice to creditors.
• Redirect the mail once you have the authority to do so, so bills and statements reach you.
• Ask your accountant whether the estate needs its own tax ID number or a separate estate bank account.

Days 31 to 60: inventory and organize

Now you are building a full picture of what the person owned and owed. Go slowly and write everything down.

What to list	Examples	Where to look
Accounts and assets	Bank accounts, retirement accounts, vehicles, real estate	Statements, mail, tax returns
Debts and liabilities	Mortgage, car loan, credit cards, medical bills	Mail, credit report, lenders
Bills and subscriptions	Utilities, phone, streaming, memberships	Bank statements, email
Digital accounts and devices	Email, photos, social media, phones, laptops	Password notes, family
Estate expenses	Funeral costs, court fees, repairs, postage	Your own receipts

Some accounts pass straight to a named beneficiary and may not be part of the probate estate at all. That’s a question for your attorney, so mark anything with a beneficiary and ask.

Keep every receipt for money you spend on the estate. Many executors pay small costs out of pocket at first, and a clean expense log makes it much easier to sort out later.

Days 61 to 90: review and plan ahead

By the third month, the rush usually slows down. Use this time to check your work and plan what’s next.

• Review your inventory with your attorney and accountant and fill any gaps.
• Ask about deadlines. Court filings, creditor claims and tax returns all have their own timing, and those depend on your state and the estate.
• Cancel what’s no longer needed, like subscriptions, memberships and phone plans, once you’re sure they aren’t tied to anything important.
• Update the family. A short, regular note to beneficiaries prevents a lot of worry and misunderstanding.
• Take stock of yourself. Settling an estate can take many months, often longer than 90 days. Pace yourself and ask for help.

The executor checklist at a glance

Print this short version and keep it at the front of your binder.

• Find the will and secure the home, car and valuables
• Keep a call and meeting log from day one
• Order certified death certificates
• Meet with an estate attorney
• Notify Social Security, banks, insurers, employers and pension plans
• Ask your accountant about tax ID numbers and an estate account
• List accounts, assets, debts, bills and digital accounts
• Track every estate expense with receipts
• Review deadlines and keep beneficiaries informed

Questions to bring to your first meetings

Walking in with a written list helps when you’re tired and overwhelmed. A few to start with:

• For the attorney: Does this estate need probate? What gives me authority to act, and how long does that take? What should I not do yet?
• For the accountant: What tax returns will the person or the estate need? Should the estate have its own account?
• For banks and insurers: What documents do you need from me? Is there a named beneficiary on this account?

Our First 90 Days estate and executor organizer is built around these same stages, with phase checklists, contact and notify lists, a documents checklist, trackers for accounts, debts, bills and expenses, and pages of questions to ask the professionals. It’s a record-keeping tool, not legal advice, and it gives all those papers one home. If a friend has just lost someone, a printed organizer can be a practical way to help, and a quiet gift from our Saint Amelia’s Gift Boutique can sit alongside it. For tips on printing a binder that holds up, read how to print printables at home, and see Catholic sympathy gifts for more ways to offer comfort.

FAQ

What is the first thing an executor should do?

Secure the home and belongings, find the will if you can, and start a log of every call. Then meet with an estate attorney to learn what your state requires before you act on anything.

How many death certificates does an executor need?

It depends on how many accounts and offices are involved. Many banks, insurers and agencies want their own certified copy, so list the places that will need one before you order.

Can an executor pay estate bills from their own money?

Some executors cover small costs at first, but the rules on paying debts and reimbursing yourself vary by state. Keep receipts for everything and ask your attorney before paying any debts.

How long does it take to settle an estate?

Often longer than 90 days. Simple estates can wrap up in months, while estates with probate, property or disputes can take a year or more. Your attorney can give you a realistic timeline.