Ontario Barrister and Solicitor Practice Exam 2025 - Free Barrister and Solicitor Practice Questions and Study Guide

The role of an executor in an estate is primarily to administer the deceased's estate and ensure that the provisions of the will are carried out as intended. This responsibility encompasses a wide range of duties, including gathering the estate's assets, paying any debts and taxes owed by the estate, and distributing the remaining assets to the beneficiaries as specified in the will. The executor is tasked with acting in the best interests of the estate and ensuring compliance with legal requirements, making them critical to the proper execution of the estate plan.

While managing the deceased's finances and investments during probate is an aspect of the executor’s role, it is not the sole defining function. Similarly, although the executor may represent the estate in litigation matters if necessary, this is not the primary duty. Providing legal counsel to the heirs is also outside the executor's scope, as they are not legal advisors but rather individuals responsible for fulfilling the wishes expressed in the will. Therefore, the correct understanding of the executor's role is focused on their responsibility to see the estate administered and the will executed properly.