Being named executor means you have been chosen to carry out someone’s final wishes. It is an honor, but it is also a legal role with real responsibilities.

In North Carolina, an executor is responsible for managing the estate through the probate process.

Most families don’t think about probate until it’s too late. They assume things will “just work out” when the time comes. But I’ve seen firsthand how waiting can lead to heartache, conflict, and long delays in court. As a North Carolina estate planning attorney, I meet families every week who tell me the same thing: “We wish we had done this sooner.”