Executor burden is an unpaid full-time job nobody is trained for

When someone is named executor of an estate, they inherit a complex project-management role involving legal filings, tax returns (estate, income, and possibly gift tax), asset inventory, creditor notification, beneficiary communication, real estate management, and court appearances, all while grieving. Most executors are family members with no legal or financial background. So what? They make costly mistakes: missing the 9-month estate tax filing deadline (triggering IRS penalties), failing to notify creditors within the statutory window (creating personal liability), distributing assets before debts are settled (making themselves financially responsible), or selling assets at the wrong time (creating unnecessary capital gains). So what? The executor's personal finances and mental health are wrecked by a role they were honored to be named to but had no idea would consume 500-1000 hours of work. So what? This is the most consequential administrative project most people will ever manage, yet there is no onboarding, no checklist provided by any authority, and no standardized process across jurisdictions. This persists because the probate system assumes executors will hire attorneys, but many estates can't afford it, and the legal profession has no incentive to simplify a process that generates billable hours.