5 Documents Your Executor Needs to Find Immediately

April 16, 2026

Here’s the part nobody tells you about being named executor: before you can call a single bank, file a single claim, or distribute a single dollar—you need paperwork. Specific paperwork. And it’s not always easy to find.

Most executors waste their first few weeks scrambling through filing cabinets, calling attorneys, and Googling “where do I find letters testamentary.” So let’s skip that. These are the five documents you need to locate before anything else moves forward.

1. The Original Will

Not a photocopy. Not a PDF someone emailed you in 2019. The original, signed document. Most probate courts won’t accept anything less.

Where to look: the person’s home safe, a safe deposit box, their attorney’s office, or filed with the county clerk (some states allow pre-filing). If you genuinely cannot find the original, talk to a probate attorney—some states have processes for lost wills, but they’re complicated and slow.

2. Certified Death Certificates (10–15 Copies)

You’ll need more than you think. Every bank, insurance company, government agency, and financial institution wants their own certified copy. Not a photocopy of the certified copy—an actual certified copy with the raised seal.

The funeral home typically orders these for you, but if you need more later, contact your county vital records office. In most states, each certified copy costs $10–25. Order at least 10. Fifteen is safer if the estate has multiple accounts or properties.

3. Letters Testamentary (or Letters of Administration)

This is the document from the probate court that says “yes, this person has the legal authority to act on behalf of this estate.” Without it, banks will politely tell you to come back later.

You get letters testamentary by filing the will with your local probate court. The timeline varies—some courts issue them within days, others take weeks. Ask for multiple certified copies of these too. You’ll need them.

4. Life Insurance Policies

Life insurance proceeds typically don’t go through probate—they’re paid directly to named beneficiaries. But someone still needs to file the claims. And you can’t file a claim if you can’t find the policy.

Where to look: the person’s email (search “life insurance” or “policy”), their financial files, bank statements for premium payments, or their employer’s HR department for group life coverage. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners also has a free Life Insurance Policy Locator tool that searches participating companies.

5. Financial Account Statements

Bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, credit cards, mortgage statements—you need a snapshot of everything. You don’t need to take action on these immediately, but you need to know what exists so nothing gets missed.

Start with their mail (physical and email). Look for monthly statements, tax documents (1099s tell you exactly which institutions hold money), and any financial advisor contacts. A digital accounts inventory—even a partial one—can save you weeks of detective work later.

What to Do Next

• Start with the will and death certificates—everything else depends on those
• Keep a running list of every institution and account you discover
• Create one folder (physical or digital) for each institution
• Don’t try to contact everyone in one day—two or three per day is sustainable

Lumeway’s estate planning worksheets can help you track all of this in one place. The Digital Accounts & Passwords Inventory captures every account, login, and contact. The Executor Introduction Letter gives you a starting template for notifying institutions. Small tools that keep the chaos manageable.

You don’t need to know everything right now. You just need the right papers in the right folder.

Free planning tools and Transition Navigator at lumeway.co

This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or medical advice. Consult a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.