I honestly do not know who to ask about how to ask this question.

[camwyn]

If you are making out a will for the first time, and you do not have a lawyer, how do you go about asking someone to be the executor of your will? I don't have kids and I'm no one's legal guardian but I'd like to make sure that my stuff goes where I want it to go in the event of, say, a kaiju attack on Boston Harbor. I don't own a lot and I've already filled out beneficiary forms for things like my retirement account, so I don't know that getting a lawyer involved is all that necessary as long as I meet the appropriate conditions at signing time (me, two adult witnesses, maybe a notary but the templates say that's not necessary). But do I just phone or email somebody and say 'is it okay if I put your name in the line that says "I name this person as the executor/executrix of my will"?'

(I do not expect to die any time soon, but I plan on getting my medical certificate again and going back to flight school soon, and it is always best to ensure that things are in order before sticking one's middle finger up at the laws of physics.)

Comments

[mishaday]

Pretty much? It's usually family, but it can be anyone. And they're allowed to charge the estate a fee for the work (because it's hella paperwork, even for small estates.) There are also professional executor services.
We recently went through this with my mother - part of it was easy because she had a will, Dad was both the executor and beneficiary so it was more shipping a dozen death certificates off and making sure her name was removed from accounts, etc.
It's definitely something you'd want to give a heads up on. (and people can turn you down afterwards, then it goes to the court to chose a pro)