Definition
The executor, sometimes called a personal representative or administrator depending on the state, is the person a probate court formally authorizes to manage a deceased person's estate. That role includes securing the property, paying off debts, and ultimately signing the deed when the house is sold. Without that formal court appointment, nobody actually has the legal authority to convey the home, no matter how close they were to the person who passed away. For a homeowner or family member handling an inherited property, getting the court appointment finalized early is usually the most important first step toward being able to sell.
Example
After her mother passed away, the probate court issued letters testamentary naming Carla as executor of the estate a few weeks after she filed the paperwork. She had been named in her mother's will years earlier, which made the appointment process fairly straightforward. With that document in hand, Carla could finally act on the estate's behalf instead of waiting in limbo while bills and property taxes continued coming due. She used it to sign both the listing agreement and, once a buyer was found, the deed transferring the house to its new owner. The title company kept a certified copy of her letters testamentary on file throughout the closing process to satisfy their underwriting requirements. Carla said having that single document made every other step of settling her mother's estate possible.