I was named as executor in my mom's will. I don’t want to do the job. How can I officially renounce?

Losing a parent is hard and it’s okay to recognize your limits right now. If you’re named as an executor in a will, you can choose not to take on the role. 

When an executor officially declines, it’s called renouncing. The process allows someone else to step in and deal with the estate. (Usually, this is a co-executor or alternate executor named in the will. If no one else is named in the will, someone can step in and apply to be the administrator.)

The process to renounce as executor is fairly straightforward. You will need to complete and sign a legal form called a notice of renunciation. You can download probate form P17 here. The form tells the court you are officially declining to act. It can be filed with the rest of the probate forms when someone applies for a grant to deal with the estate.

You can choose to step aside, for now 

If you don’t want to renounce, but you don’t want to act as executor right now, there’s another option. The co-executor can apply for a grant of probate that reserves your right to apply for a grant at a later date. (More details on how to do that can be found here.) For example, you may choose to do this later if the co-executor becomes unable to finish administering the estate.

When the co-executor applies for probate, they can indicate that you are not applying with them. When filling out the prescribed grant form P19, they will be prompted to include your name as an executor whose rights have been reserved.

If you’ve already started dealing with the estate

Renouncing is only an option if you haven't intermeddled with the estate. Intermeddling means taking actions that show an intention to take on the executor role. Examples include collecting money owed to the estate, paying bills from estate funds, or even telling others such as banks or beneficiaries that you’re the executor. Arranging the funeral or simply asking questions about what's in the estate don’t count as intermeddling. 

If you’ve already started acting as an executor and you don’t want to continue, it gets more complicated. You will need to ask the court to be discharged as executor. (Or someone else would need to ask the court to remove you as executor.) The court can refuse to allow you to step down. They’ll consider factors like your reasons for not wanting the job and whether there’s a suitable person who’s willing to take your place. You’ll also have to give a detailed account of all the work you’ve done as executor so far.