What happens if an executer of a will dies?

[flower power]

My Uncle is an exectuter of my Grandmothers will alongside my Father. My Uncle is of ill health and may die before the will is settled or may be too ill to act as an executer. What happens if this happen? Does his next of kin or power of atorney automaticaly act on his behalf or does my Father become sole executer. How do we stand? a professional opinion would be appreciated.

[dzug]

Your father becomes sole executor if he dies. If he's too ill then he can renounce being executor by signing a form - or remain as a nominal executor in the background and leave all the work to your father.

To appoint a substitute executor the approval of the Probate Court would be needed. No one else can step in automatically.