I’m an Executor. What do I do First?
Ian Keay
June 12, 2026
Grief vs. Administrative Work: A Busy First Month
The period immediately after a death is difficult: grief, uncertainty and the weight of responsibility when you are named as executor all hits at once. Grief is accompanied by the practical responsibilities of an executor that cannot be left for later. When you are named as executor, your first few steps matter.
Funeral arrangements often come first. For many estates, the executor has control of, or very often will be involved in decisions regarding the deceased’s funeral. If you experience uncertainty about who has decision-making authority, or if family members disagree with the executor’s decisions, legal advice should be obtained promptly.
1. Secure the Home, Assets, and Immediate Risks
The first practical priority should be to secure the deceased’s home and assets. A useful starting point is to photograph or video the contents of the home, the contents of the deceased’s wallet / purse, the safe contents and any other particularly important or valuable assets. This creates a basic record of the deceased’s personal property and household effects. It may also help later if questions arise about what was in the home at the date of death or whether particular items are missing. The executor should also begin gathering key documents and financial information, including:
- bank and investment statements;
- property records (a Deed, any Bills of Sale, etc.);
- insurance policies;
- tax records;
- vehicle ownership documents;
- business records, if applicable; and
- information about debts, credit cards, loans, and recurring payments.
At this early stage, the goal is not to have a complete inventory. The immediate goal is to understand what exists, where the risks are and what needs attention. A basic early picture of the estate assets reduces the chance that assets, liabilities, or deadlines will be missed.
Practical risk management is also important. If the home will be vacant, the insurer should be notified promptly. Vacancy almost assuredly affects house insurance coverage. The insurer should confirm whether vacancy coverage is required and available. If you suspect that others have access to the home (duplicate keys, knowledge of the door codes, etc.), the executor has a duty to secure the assets and should immediately consider whether locks, alarm codes, garage access, or keys need to be changed.
Immediate liability and safety risks should also be addressed. Firearms should be secured and dealt with properly – legal advice relating to firearms should be immediately sought. Prescription medications and controlled substances should be removed or safely disposed of. Obvious hazards on the property, such as a broken step, loose railing, or icy walkway, should be dealt with before someone is injured.
Other urgent matters may include caring for pets, checking vehicles, removing perishable food, arranging for snow removal or lawn care, and ensuring the home is visited regularly.
2. Locate the Will and Other Key Documents
Another early priority is locating the decedent’s Will. Where to look? The starting point would be with the decedent’s lawyer. Many lawyers keep vaults where they store their clients’ Wills and Powers of Attorney. If you don’t know the identity of the lawyer, you could start with a cursory look around the deceased’s home: Wills are often kept in filing cabinets, home safes or safety deposit boxes. They can also be found in less obvious places. If the deceased’s lawyer does not have the Will, the search at the deceased’s home should be thorough. Check anywhere important papers may have been stored, hidden, or set aside.
Provided you locate a Will, you need to be aware that it may not be the deceased’s final Will. Seek legal advice, especially where a third party alleges that they are in possession of a final Will. Earlier Wills, draft Wills, unsigned documents, handwritten notes, electronic records, or codicils can create uncertainty and there is statutory authority to potentially ratify unsigned or incomplete documents so that what appears not to be a Will, becomes the final Will.
If a Will cannot be found but there is reason to believe one exists, there are ways to search the community in which the deceased lived at the time you believe a Will was completed. Contact your lawyer to discuss in more detail. Once found, the Will should identify the executor and may contain important directions for the administration of the estate.
Other essential documents should also be gathered early. These may include death certificates, government-issued identification, insurance documents, banking records, investment records, property documents, business records, and information about pensions or benefits. It will also be important to secure the deceased’s mail, which could include forwarding the mail to a secure address to which the executor has access.
3. Consider Who to Notify, and When
Notifying the appropriate authorities and institutions is an important early step. Many funeral homes offer a service where they will assist with certain administrative matters. This can include applying for the CPP death benefit, cancelling OAS, cancelling the driver’s license and many other useful administrative steps. Beyond that, notifications should be handled carefully. Some organizations should be contacted early. Others are easier to deal with once the executor has gathered basic information about the deceased’s assets, liabilities, income sources, automatic payments, subscriptions, and insurance coverage. And still others may need to wait until the executor has the Certificate of Appointment approved by the Court (where applicable).
Before contacting financial institutions, insurers, government agencies, pension providers, service providers, or creditors, the executor should try to understand what accounts and obligations exist. This makes the process more efficient and reduces the risk of missed information or unnecessary complications.
Mail, identification, and sensitive personal information should be secured as soon as possible. Redirecting mail where appropriate, safeguarding passports and other identification, and identifying important online accounts can help protect the estate and reduce the risk of fraud.
Acting as an executor is an exercise in good record-keeping. The executor should maintain a written record of steps taken, people contacted, documents gathered, and expenses paid and keep all of those records in a safe and secure place. If the executor pays estate expenses personally, detailed receipts and records should be kept to support reimbursement from the estate later.
It may be useful to manage beneficiary expectations early. Estate administration often takes longer than beneficiaries expect. Even a straightforward estate can involve delays with institutions, tax filings, asset sales, probate, or missing information. Clear communication about timing can reduce confusion and help avoid unnecessary tension. Managing beneficiary expectation will always be an important job of the executor. If you are uncertain about the expected timing, your lawyer can assist you in establishing a reasonable timeline to communicate to the beneficiaries.
4. The First Month Matters
The first month after a death is usually both emotional and administrative. The executor does not need to solve everything immediately. However, a few foundational steps should be taken early: secure the home and assets, locate the Will, address immediate risks, gather key information, and approach notifications in an organized way. The role of executor can feel overwhelming. It becomes more manageable when handled step by step. Early attention to the practical details helps protect the estate, reduce risk, and support the proper administration of the deceased’s wishes.
- Ian Keay
