At the same time as the will is admitted to Probate Court, the executor who is listed in the will is appointed as the executor. Many lawyers have abandoned the gender specific terms of executor applying to a male and an executrix applying to a female. It is now common to just call him or her an executor.
The Probate Court issues the executor “Letters of Authority”. This is an official Court order certified by Probate Court that the person named is the executor of the estate. The executor uses this Letter of Authority to transact business on behalf of the estate. The executor can close bank accounts, sell assets, pay bills, and do all things necessary to administer the estate in accordance with the terms of the will.