Executor of Estate Explained: What to Do If You Don’t Have Anyone to Name

In one of my first planned giving discussions early in my fundraising career, I faced something I had never considered before.

Over lunch, a longtime donor hesitantly told me he had no one to serve as executor of his estate. He had confided in me about the strained relationship with his children and extended family, leaving him with a difficult decision. It was hard for him to talk about, and my job at the moment was, first and foremost, to listen.  

After he poured out his heart, it was my turn. Given that I am not an attorney, I could not give him advice; I could only lay out the options for a non-family member executor. There are a few options in this scenario:  

• Hire a professional executor: An attorney or financial planner can serve as a professional executor for your estate. Their skills and experience to handle the tasks associated with estates make them a logical choice. 
• Name a charity as your executor: A nonprofit can be named as the executor. The nonprofit will work with an attorney to fulfill the estate plan.  
• Choose a trusted friend: One of the most important planned gifts of my career (find the story here), the executor was the person’s life-long friend. A friend can be invested in the process while avoiding familial drama.

As a nonprofit leader, the information and options you provide are invaluable. Your compassion and kindness go a long way in moments like these.