Probate administration is the process in which a decedent’s assets are managed and distributed according to estate planning documents, such as a will, and state law. By the end of the probate process, debts and taxes should be paid, and all assets should be distributed to their new owners. Probating an estate from beginning to end may take as little as a few weeks or as long as several years, depending on the complexity of the estate and the disputes that arise. However, most estates are probated within a year with minimal court involvement. An executor is responsible for shepherding a decedent’s estate through the entire probate process. In addition to filing the appropriate legal documents and complying with the will and court orders, the executor has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the estate. One of an executor’s duties is to manage the estate’s assets during the process and ensure that the estate does not suffer an avoidable loss. The executor must also inventory and appraise the estate’s assets. An executor may hire professionals, such as lawyers and accountants, to help complete their duties. Executors are entitled to reasonable compensation for their work on the estate. (However, executors who will inherit from the estate commonly decline compensation.) Executors are also generally responsible for keeping beneficiaries and heirs informed of the status of the estate and the probate process. An executor’s duties officially end when the probate case is formally closed. Estate administration involves a variety of tasks. These include: