Can an executor quit after probate starts?

Resignation may be possible, but the court can require records, an accounting, and an orderly transfer to a replacement. As part of the legal review, an executor can often decline before accepting the appointment and may be able to resign later with court approval. In the estate planning context, the will does not force a person to serve, so naming a willing successor reduces delay. Keep copies with the rest of your important records, and tell the appropriate people where those records are kept.