The executor's job is much more involved than you might initially believe. At its simplest, the executor's role involves documenting assets of the deceased, paying the bills for the estate, and distributing assets to the rightful beneficiaries. These in themselves are not simple tasks, and there are many more to come.

Tom Carter operated a private law practice for nearly 20 years, one dedicated to meeting the complex legal needs of our aging population. His specialization included wills and estates, incapacity planning, and adult guardianship and trusteeship. In 1999 he closed the practice to take a position as a Senior Trust Officer and Estate Consultant with Canada Trust, and is now teaching law at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton. Carter has been an instructor for the Alberta Bar Admission Course (wills and estates) and has published several articles on aging and relevant legal issues. He is the author of Write Your Legal Will in 3 Easy Steps, Living Wills Kit, and So You’ve Been Appointed Executor for Self-Counsel Press.

Tom Carter's profile page

Elyssa Lockhart, JD, has been practicing law for more than two decades, focusing on succession of business assets, estate planning, and estate administration. A sought-after speaker, she has given presentations at women’s conferences, legal seminars, and BC Business Thought Leadership events, and has held positions such as president of the Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce, member of the Board of Governors with the University of the Fraser Valley, and director of the BC Winter Games (2014).

Elyssa Lockhart's profile page