Vesta Advice Series – October 23, 2025

Choosing your executor is an essential component of creating an estate plan, and often the first thing you’ll be asked when discussing your wishes.  Despite the significance of this appointment, many clients put minimal thought and research towards this topic, both in understanding an executor’s duties and what makes a good executor.

Beginning with some disclosures: I am not a lawyer, and this should not be construed as legal advice. An executor’s duties are primarily governed by the ‘Wills, Estates, & Succession Act’ in BC, the ‘Trustee Act’ in BC, and information is current as of October 23^rd, 2025.  This article is intended for education and guidance purposes, and you should seek professional advice when planning your estate.

My goals today are to familiarize you with the most common duties of an executor, and to identify common mistakes you will want to avoid.

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What does an executor do?

Put simply, an executor’s job is to make sure that your wishes are honored after you are dead.  This task encompasses a lot, and often executors are surprised to find out just how much work it is.

Here is a list of just some of the tasks required for a simple estate:

• Funeral arrangements
• Validating the will (probate)
• Notifying beneficiaries & creditors
• Setting up estate accounts
• Inventory, valuation, and security of estate assets
• Notifying financial institutions, utilities, services & government
• Selling properties & liquidating accounts
• Record keeping & communicating with beneficiaries
• Filing final tax returns & clearance certificate
• Distribution of assets

Many of these tasks have details or considerations beyond the scope of the article.  Importantly, none of these tasks are impossible, and there are plenty of resources available to help an executor complete their role.  Thus, most people with organizational skills and some financial acumen can navigate their role so long as they have the time and desire.

The average estate in Canada takes between 12 and 18 months to complete, with longer time frames for inter-generational transfers and/or complex estates.  As such, executors should be prepared for many hours of research, administration, and communication.

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Choosing the right person

Now that we have considered the magnitude of the task, the follow-up question becomes: who should I appoint as my executor?

Although there are some additional considerations when making your choice, there are three factors which are essential: your executor choice needs to be capable, they need the desire to do their task, and you need to trust them.  Many people view being an executor as an honor but are quickly overwhelmed by the requirements of performing their tasks.  As such, it is imperative that you discuss your wishes and expectations with your potential executor before appointing them and ensure they are willing and able to act as your executor.

With that established, there are a couple of other common wrinkles to consider: location and the desire for multiple executors.

When choosing your executor(s), it is substantially easier if they reside near you, ideally in the same province.  There are some tasks that require the executor to be personally present, and multiple flights across the country to settle an estate are both costly and time consuming.  Although interprovincial executors can remain an option if absolutely necessary, I would never recommend naming an executor from outside of the country.  Estates are taxed where the executor resides, and this often leads to extremely expensive and complex issues.

Co-executors are often appointed by a will, commonly when there are multiple children and the parents are concerned that naming only one child will be perceived as unfair.  Conceptually, this can spread the workload and create a better experience for everyone, relying on individual strengths and creating checks and balances.  The reality can be trickier, though, with a greater potential for conflict and logistical challenges; co-executorship often requires all executors to sign off on estate actions, and unanimous agreement is required unless otherwise stipulated in the will.  Ask yourself if you can foresee any issues arising from an uneven workload among your executors, or delays from one executor dragging their heels while the other(s) wish to act quickly.

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Bringing it all together with good communication

Once you have considered your options and made your decision, there is great value in communicating your wishes regarding alternate beneficiaries, as well as compensation.

When choosing an executor, it is important to create a backup plan.  What if your executor pre-deceases you, or moves out of the country? What if they have health issues, or a work project leaves them unable to designate the time they would need to administer your estate? By naming an alternate executor, you pre-empt any doubts about who you wish to step in if the need arises.

Finally, discussing compensation with your executor can create a more comfortable situation in the future for everyone involved.  Executors are entitled to compensation under the WESA act, typically between 3 – 5% of the estate’s value in BC.  However, many executors feel guilty and uncomfortable paying themselves for their task, yet are dismayed by the amount of work they have undertaken “for free.”  Emotions are often running high as people grieve, and a simple discussion with the beneficiaries and executor(s) beforehand can have a tremendous effect on the headspace of everyone involved.

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I hope you have enjoyed this article, and it aids you in creating an estate plan you are proud of.  If you have any questions, comments, or feedback at all, please reach out to me directly and let me know.  Thank you for reading!

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

https://www.peopleslawschool.ca/choosing-executor/

https://www.mawer.com/tools-and-resources/investor-education/essential-tips-for-choosing-the-right-estate-executor

https://vestestatelawyers.com/blog/bc/executor-responsibilities-in-bc-a-legal-checklist/

https://www.parrbusinesslaw.com/blog/executor-duties-bc