Step 1
Prove yourself trustworthy. Your parents will be hesitant to name someone in their will as executor who has proven himself irresponsible and selfish. Your parents may judge you on past behavior in determining whether you are the child they wish to distribute their assets after death.
Step 2
Agree to accept the responsibility. There would be no point in your parents naming you as executor if you had no intention of serving. If they ask you to do them the honor, you should appear ready and willing to take on the task so that they will feel they have left the right person in charge. If they have named you as successor executor behind someone else, be aware that you will be called upon to serve in the event the first-named person is unable or unwilling to perform the task.
Step 3
Present the will to the probate court after the death of each parent and petition for letters testamentary, which is the document signed by the judge that authorizes you to carry out the terms of the will. Until probate is initiated, you have no authority to act as executor or personal representative of the estate. Without probate, there can be no executor.
