10 Tasks Every Estate Executor Must Complete in the First 90 Days

Being named executor of an estate is not a role people train for. Most executors are adult children or surviving spouses who have never administered an estate, are doing it while grieving, and have no clear map of what needs to happen and in what order.

The first 90 days carry the most critical statutory deadlines. Here are the 10 tasks that cannot wait.

1. Obtain Multiple Copies of the Death Certificate

You will need more copies of the death certificate than you expect — typically 10-15. Financial institutions, insurance companies, government agencies, and real estate transactions each require an original certified copy. Order them from the funeral home or county vital records office within the first week.

Running out of certified copies mid-process adds weeks of delay to account closures and insurance claims.

2. File the Will with the Probate Court

If the decedent had a will, it must be filed with the probate court in the county of residence. Most states require this within 30 days of death, and many impose a statutory deadline. Filing the will opens the estate for administration.

If there is no will (intestate succession), you still need to open probate to receive appointment as administrator.

3. Apply for Letters Testamentary

Letters Testamentary (or Letters of Administration for intestate estates) are the court-issued documents that give you legal authority to act on behalf of the estate. Banks, brokerages, and transfer agents will not speak with you without them.

Apply for these at the same time you file the will. Depending on your state and court, this process takes 1-6 weeks.

4. Open an Estate Bank Account

The estate’s assets and expenses should flow through a dedicated estate checking account, not your personal account. You will use this account to collect income owed to the estate, pay valid creditor claims, cover funeral and administration expenses, and ultimately distribute assets to beneficiaries.

Open this account as soon as you have Letters Testamentary in hand.

5. Notify Known Creditors

Most states require formal written notice to known creditors, typically within 30-60 days of appointment. This notice starts the creditor claim window — the period during which creditors can file claims against the estate.

Known creditors include credit card companies, mortgage servicers, medical providers, and anyone the decedent owed money to. Unknown creditors are typically notified via a published legal notice in a local newspaper.

6. Compile the Asset Inventory

You have approximately 90 days (varies by state) from your appointment date to file a formal inventory of estate assets with the court. This includes all real property, financial accounts, vehicles, investment accounts, life insurance with estate as beneficiary, and personal property of value.

Start this immediately. Locating all accounts can take weeks, especially if the decedent did not leave organized records.

7. Cancel or Transfer Subscriptions and Recurring Accounts

Credit cards, subscriptions, utilities, and services in the decedent’s name continue accruing charges until they are explicitly cancelled. Some are easy (Netflix, gym memberships). Others require death certificates and formal processing (mortgages, car loans).

Make a full list and systematically close or transfer each account. This protects the estate’s assets and prevents debt accumulation.

8. Notify Government Agencies

The Social Security Administration must be notified of the death, usually within the same month — any benefit payments received after the month of death must be returned. The IRS must receive notification and will need to process a final income tax return and, if the estate meets the threshold, an estate tax return.

Veterans benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, and any state pension programs also require notification. Do not wait on these — overpayments become liabilities.

9. Secure and Maintain Estate Property

Real property (homes, rental units) that is now owned by the estate must be secured, insured, and maintained. Homeowners insurance policies typically terminate or change upon death. Contact the insurance carrier immediately to convert the policy to an estate coverage policy.

If the property is vacant, check on it regularly. Vandalism, weather damage, or squatters can create significant estate liability.

10. Communicate Regularly with Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries have a legal right to information about the estate administration. Failing to communicate — even when you are working diligently — creates conflict, triggers formal demands for accountings, and occasionally results in legal challenges.

A simple monthly update (by email or letter) covering what has been completed, what is pending, and the estimated timeline reduces nearly all beneficiary friction.

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