There's no single official "executor's manual," and most people serving as executor are doing it for the first time, usually for a parent or spouse, usually while dealing with a real loss. This is the practical sequence — not a substitute for legal advice on your specific estate, but a map of what generally comes first, second, and third, so the process feels less like a maze.

A note before the list: exact deadlines depend on your specific estate, the county, and whether the matter is contested. Nothing here should be treated as a firm legal deadline for your situation — get the actual dates confirmed early with an attorney, since some of these carry real consequences if missed.

The first two weeks

Before anything is filed, a few things need to be in hand.

  1. Locate the original will. Not a copy — courts generally require the original document to admit it to probate. Check a safe deposit box, a fireproof safe, or wherever important papers were kept.
  2. Get certified copies of the death certificate. Order more than you think you'll need — banks, insurance companies, the DMV, and the court will each want their own certified copy, and requesting them one at a time later slows everything down.
  3. Secure the property. A house, a car, anything of value should be reasonably secured — locked, insured, and checked on — while the estate is being settled.
  4. Notify Social Security if the deceased was receiving benefits. This is usually handled quickly by a funeral home, but it's worth confirming it actually happened.
  5. Start a simple record. A notebook or spreadsheet logging what you find, what you spend, and every step taken. Executors are generally accountable for the estate's assets, and a clean contemporaneous record is the easiest way to stay organized and protected.

Weeks two through four

This is when the will typically gets filed and the formal process begins.

  1. File the will for probate. Texas generally allows up to four years to file, but that's not a target — waiting delays access to accounts and property and can create complications. Filing promptly, typically within the first few weeks, is the practical norm.
  2. Attend the court hearing. For an uncontested matter, this is usually brief and straightforward — the court confirms the will is valid and, if applicable, appoints the executor.
  3. Get your Letters Testamentary (if the estate requires a full administration, rather than muniment of title). This is the document that actually gives you legal authority to act on the estate's behalf — banks and other institutions will ask to see it.
  4. Open an estate bank account, if administration is required. Estate funds generally shouldn't mix with personal accounts — keeping them separate protects everyone, including you.
  5. Begin identifying assets and debts. A running list of accounts, property, and anything owed. This becomes the foundation for the estate inventory, which Texas law generally requires within 90 days of the executor's appointment (courts can grant extensions) — your attorney will confirm the exact date for your matter.
If the estate qualifies for muniment of title instead of a full administration, several of the steps above — Letters Testamentary, an estate bank account, formal creditor notice — don't apply. Muniment of title is a simpler path precisely because no executor is formally appointed. See whether this estate qualifies →

What comes after the first month

Beyond day 30, the process generally moves into creditor notice, the formal inventory, and eventually distribution — each with its own timeline that depends on the specific estate. The first month is about establishing authority and getting organized; what follows depends heavily on what the first month turned up.

Step-by-step guidance, not a form to fill out alone

Every estate we handle gets executor guidance from filing to closing — the actual deadlines for your county and situation, not a generic list. A free 20-minute call is where that starts.

Key takeaways

  • The first priorities are the original will, certified death certificates, and securing the property — nothing else moves without them.
  • Filing the will promptly matters, even though Texas allows up to four years — delay has real practical costs.
  • Keep estate funds separate from personal funds, and keep a running record from day one.
  • Exact deadlines vary by estate and county — this checklist is the general order of operations, not a substitute for confirming your specific dates with an attorney.
  • If the estate qualifies for muniment of title, several administration-specific steps (Letters Testamentary, an estate account) don't apply at all.