=== What can I do to protect myself from liability? ===

As the executor, you could be personally liable if you don’t pay the deceased’s debts, including any taxes owed, before you distribute the estate.

== Step 7: If Necessary, Apply for Probate ==

As the executor, you may need to '''probate''' the will. In the probate process, you submit special forms and the will to court; see below for details. If everything is in order, the court issues a grant of probate. This document allows financial institutions and other organizations such as the Land Title Office to rely on the will as being the last will made by the will-maker.