They who have nothing.....

[RightOn]

Taxpayer passed away in 2014. His surviving spouse and his daughter do not have anything to determine how his estate should be handled. His daughter said they just could not find anything.

So who should be the executor of the estate? Would it be his surviving spouse by default under the situation?

[Burke]

Generally, a surviving spouse is the one responsible for settling affairs, if there is anything to settle. Was there a will? If so, check with the local government office who handles wills and estates to determine if it needs to be probated. They would also be the ones to contact for the spouse to be appointed personal representative if there was no will.