Are you ready to be an executor?
What does an executor actually do?
An executor is the person named in a will to carry out its terms. In England & Wales that means taking legal responsibility for the deceased's estate — everything they owned and owed — from the day of death until the last penny is distributed. In practice the work runs: register the death; find and read the will; value the assets and the debts; apply for the grant of probate if it's needed; settle debts and any Inheritance Tax; then pay the beneficiaries and produce final estate accounts.
It is a legal and administrative role with real duties attached, not just a title. You don't have to do it alone — co-executors, solicitors and probate practitioners can carry most of the load — and you don't have to take it on at all if you'd rather renounce before you start. The quiz above shows how ready you are to act right now, area by area.
England & Wales only. Scotland (where executors are "confirmed") and Northern Ireland differ. General information, not legal advice.
Executor duties checklist
The core responsibilities follow a broad order. Each one maps to a question in the quiz above, so you can see where you already stand.
- 01Register the death and get certificatesRegister within 5 days of the medical examiner's office confirming you can (8 in Scotland), and order several certified copies — most institutions accept only originals.
- 02Find and read the will, confirm you're the executorOnly the named executor(s) can act. Locate the original, check who is appointed, and identify any co-executors.
- 03Identify the assets and the debtsBank accounts, investments, pensions, property, insurance — and everything owed. Build a list before you value the estate.
- 04Value the estate and assess Inheritance TaxWork out the date-of-death value. Report to HMRC and pay any Inheritance Tax due — often before probate is granted.
- 05Apply for the grant of probateThe grant is the legal authority to deal with the estate. You can apply yourself via GOV.UK, or instruct a solicitor.
- 06Collect in, pay debts, then distributeSettle liabilities and tax first, place creditor notices to protect yourself, then pay the beneficiaries and prepare final accounts.
Getting it right — and your responsibilities
Being an executor — your questions
What does an executor actually do?
An executor is the person named in a will who is legally responsible for carrying out its terms.In practice that means registering the death, finding and valuing everything the person owned (and owed), applying for the grant of probate if it's needed, paying any debts and Inheritance Tax, and then distributing what's left to the beneficiaries named in the will.You also keep estate accounts showing money in and out. It is an administrative and legal role, not just a ceremonial one — most of the work happens over several months.
Can I refuse to be an executor, or step down?
Yes. Being named in a will does not force you to act.Before you take any step to administer the estate, you can formally 'renounce' — give up the role — by signing a deed of renunciation, which a court or solicitor can prepare. If you'd rather not deal with the day-to-day work but don't want to renounce, you can appoint a solicitor to act on your behalf with 'power reserved' or grant power of attorney.The key point: once you have started dealing with the estate (sometimes called 'intermeddling'), you generally cannot renounce, so decide early.
How long does being an executor take?
It varies widely with the size and complexity of the estate.A straightforward estate often takes around 6 to 12 months from death to final distribution; a complex one — property to sell, a business, foreign assets, missing paperwork, or a dispute — can run to 18 months or more.The grant of probate itself usually takes a number of weeks to months to issue once you apply. Beneficiaries are not normally paid in full until debts, tax and the final accounts are settled.
Do I need a solicitor to act as an executor?
No — there is no legal requirement to use a solicitor or probate practitioner. Many people administer simple estates themselves, applying for probate directly through GOV.UK.A solicitor becomes worth considering when the estate is large or complex, Inheritance Tax is due, the will is unclear or contested, there is property or business to deal with, or you simply don't have the time and headspace.You can also instruct a professional for parts of the work only. Their fees come out of the estate, not your own pocket.
What happens if I get something wrong — am I personally liable?
Potentially, yes. An executor owes legal duties to the estate and its beneficiaries and can be held personally liable for losses caused by mistakes — for example, distributing the estate before all debts and tax are paid, paying the wrong people, or failing to find creditors.You can protect yourself: place statutory notices for creditors (a 'Section 27' Trustee Act notice), keep careful accounts, and take professional advice on anything you're unsure about.If the estate is complicated, professional administration is the safest route precisely because of this personal exposure.
How many executors can there be, and do we all have to act?
A will can name more than one executor, and up to four can apply for probate together. They generally need to act jointly and agree on decisions.Not everyone named has to take it on — an executor who doesn't want to act can renounce, or have 'power reserved' so they can step in later if needed.Having a co-executor can share the load and provide a check on decisions, but it also means coordinating; choosing who actually applies is one of the first practical decisions to make.
This page covers the executor's role in England & Wales (Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987; Inheritance Tax Act 1984; Trustee Act 1925). Scotland and Northern Ireland differ. This is general information, not legal advice.
Library
Free guides for executors
These free briefs go deeper on the steps every executor needs to understand.
The Executor's First Hour includes the beneficiary reconciliation document — each beneficiary's entitlement and payment, ready for final sign-off.
Read the guideCompletion is not the goal. Readiness is.
Read the guideThe Executor's First Hour includes the estate asset summary drawn from your records — balances, ownership structure, and whether each asset forms part of the estate.
Read the guideThe Executor's First Hour includes instructions for opening the estate account — with the executor's authority reference and the required documentation.
Read the guideThe Executor's First Hour includes the creditor priority checklist — so the estate is distributed in the correct statutory order and the executor is protected.
Read the guideAll guides are available free from the Valoren library — no account required.