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ARTICLE · 22 SEPTEMBER 2021

"Should I Stay Or Should I Go": When Should You Decline Acting As Executor?

O'Sullivan Estate Lawyers LLP
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Time and time again, we see executors who are not only surprised by their appointment but who are also overwhelmed and are not sure whether they should act.

CanadaFamily and Matrimonial
O'Sullivan Estate Lawyers LLP
O'Sullivan Estate Lawyers LLP
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In previous blogs, "Avoiding Executor Dissent" and "Key Considerations in Choosing your Executors," we have stressed the importance of choosing the right executor and provided some considerations for appointing executors. Being an executor is not easy. Time and time again, we see executors who are not only surprised by their appointment but who are also overwhelmed and are not sure whether they should act.

The So, what if you have reservations about being an executor? Should you take on the responsibility?

The first thing a person appointed as executor should know is that they have a choice in whether or not to act. Although your loved one may have thought you were the best person for the job, you are not bound by any legal obligation to accept your appointment as executor. In some cases, it may even be better if you don't act.

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