Being an Executor

"I've been asked to be an executor. What is that?"

When someone makes a Will, they name at least one executor: the person legally responsible for carrying out the instructions in the Will and dealing with everything the person owned, their money, property and possessions (their "estate").

Being named as an executor means someone trusted you with their final wishes. That trust is real and worth taking seriously. But it also means taking on duties that can be time-consuming, technically demanding and emotionally exhausting, particularly at the very moment you are grieving. This factsheet explains what the role involves, what can go wrong and how to make it as manageable as possible.

Can I be an executor?

Yes, if you are over 18 and have mental capacity. Executors are often family members, and an executor can also be a beneficiary of the same Will. It is an honour to be asked (it means someone trusts you with their final wishes), but it is also a genuine responsibility, so it is worth understanding what is involved before you accept.

You do not have to act alone. Most Wills name two or more executors, and executors can instruct professionals to handle specific tasks, or the whole administration, on their behalf. If you decide you do not want to act, you can formally decline the role (this is called "renouncing probate"), but timing matters: once you have started acting as executor, renouncing becomes more complicated.

What would I have to do?

An executor's job, in broad strokes:

Each of these steps is explained in more detail in our Estate Administration factsheet. Taken individually, none is impossible, but together, for an estate of any complexity, they represent a considerable commitment of time and care.

You do not have to do all of this yourself

Squiggle can take on as much or as little of the estate administration as you wish, from arranging the Grant of Probate to handling everything end to end, while you focus on your family. Book a call with a consultant or call 01233 659 796.

The part people don't tell you

Executors are personally liable for mistakes, paying the wrong people, missing a debt, getting a tax return wrong, or distributing too early and leaving nothing to meet a valid claim. There are sensible protections (such as placing statutory notices for creditors and waiting six months after the Grant before distributing), but the responsibility is real, and it lands at what is often the hardest possible time emotionally.

There is no obligation to act alone, or at all. An executor can instruct professionals to do the heavy lifting, or step back entirely.

What catches most executors by surprise is not any single task, but the sheer volume of correspondence and administration involved. Letters to banks, to HMRC, to pension providers, to insurers. Chasing responses. Keeping beneficiaries informed. Managing a property. All of this while handling your own grief, your family and your work.

A step-by-step guide to the executor's role

In the first days

In the first weeks

Over the following months

A worked example: David acts as executor

Imagine David, whose father passed away leaving a semi-detached house, a current account, a savings account and a modest pension (paid outside the estate). His father's Will named David as sole executor, leaving everything to David and his sister equally.

David felt confident about the basics (he understood the concept), but had not expected how long it would take to get responses from banks, or how much correspondence would be involved with HMRC. He also discovered a credit card debt he had not known about.

David called Squiggle early in the process. We prepared the estate accounts, handled the HMRC correspondence, arranged the Grant and guided David through the property sale. David remained the named executor, with all the authority that carries, while we handled the day-to-day administration. It meant he could focus on supporting his sister and managing the property, confident that the paperwork was in expert hands.

This is a hypothetical example for illustration only.

Your duty to beneficiaries

As executor, you have a legal duty to the beneficiaries: to act in good faith, to keep accurate records, to communicate clearly and to distribute the estate as quickly as reasonably possible. Beneficiaries are entitled to ask questions and to see the estate accounts. You do not have to share every detail of the administration with them, but you must not mislead them.

Where beneficiaries are also family members, the emotional dynamics can be complicated. Disputes over specific items, frustration at delays and disagreements about how a property should be dealt with are all common. Keeping communication clear and regular, even when there is nothing new to report, helps to manage expectations and reduce tension.

Protecting yourself as executor

Several practical steps reduce your personal risk:

Appointing a professional executor

If you feel the role is too much, or if you are writing your Will and want to spare your family the burden, you can appoint a professional executor. The responsibility for getting everything right then sits with the professional, and the estate is administered by people who do this every day.

Squiggle can be appointed as professional executor, or support you in your role as executor, with as much or as little help as you want. See our Professional Executors factsheet for full details, or call us on 01233 659 796.

One more thought: the kindest thing you can do for your own future executors is leave everything organised. Ask us about Squiggle LegacyVault, our secure digital storage for the documents and details they will need.

Common mistakes to avoid

Acting before you have confirmed the Will is valid. Make sure you have the original, signed and witnessed Will before taking any significant steps.

Paying out too quickly. The most common cause of executor liability is distributing the estate before all debts are settled or before the six-month window for claims has passed.

Not keeping estate money separate. Even innocent mixing of estate and personal funds can result in confusion, allegations and personal liability.

Forgetting less obvious assets. Premium bonds, small savings accounts, tax refunds, uncashed cheques and digital assets all belong to the estate.

Not telling beneficiaries what is happening. Silence breeds frustration and suspicion. Even a brief update when there is nothing new to report helps.

Ignoring a Will clause you think is unfair. You must carry out the Will as written. If you believe a clause is invalid or unlawful, seek specialist advice rather than acting on your own judgment.

Failing to check for digital assets. Email accounts, social media profiles, digital photo collections, online investment accounts and cryptocurrency wallets may all need to be considered. See our Digital Assets After Death factsheet.

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Questions? Book a free call

Pick a time that suits you and your local Squiggle consultant will call you. No charge, no obligation. Book a call or call 01233 659 796.

Talk to Squiggle: 01233 659 796 | hello@squiggleconsult.co.uk | www.squiggleconsult.co.uk | Book a free call: meet.squiggleconsult.co.uk

This factsheet is general information for England and Wales, not legal, tax or financial advice. Last reviewed: June 2026.