What Does Being an Executor Of A Will Actually Involve?

Taking Stock of the Estate

One of your core responsibilities is creating a comprehensive picture of everything the deceased owned and owed. This means making an initial list of all assets—property, bank accounts, investments, vehicles, personal belongings, and yes, even digital assets like online accounts or cryptocurrency. You’ll also need to identify all debts, from mortgages and loans to utility bills and credit cards.

Getting accurate valuations is crucial. Property needs professional valuation, investments must be valued as of the date of death, and even personal items of significant value should be properly assessed. These valuations aren’t just helpful—they’re necessary for tax purposes and to ensure fair distribution to beneficiaries.

This is where many executors begin to realise the time commitment involved. What might seem like a straightforward estate can reveal layers of complexity. Perhaps there are overseas assets, business interests, or family trusts. The deceased might have had accounts you weren’t aware of, or debts that surface unexpectedly.

Paying What’s Owed

Before any beneficiary receives a penny, you must settle debts in the correct legal order. Funeral costs and administration expenses come first, followed by taxes, then other debts. Getting this order wrong can create significant problems.

One protective step you can take is advertising for unknown creditors—typically in the London Gazette and a local newspaper. This might seem excessive, but it protects executors from personal responsibility from claims that might emerge after you’ve distributed the estate. Imagine discovering a creditor months after you’ve paid out to beneficiaries—you could be personally liable for that debt.

Missing tax deadlines, failing to identify all creditors, or not getting proper valuations are all common pitfalls. It’s not that executors are careless—it’s that the process is more intricate than most people realise, with legal requirements that aren’t always obvious to someone handling an estate for the first time.

The Human Side of Being an Executor

Beyond the legal and financial aspects, there’s an emotional dimension that’s often overlooked. You’re likely grieving yourself while managing these responsibilities. Meanwhile, beneficiaries may be impatient, perhaps not understanding why the process takes so long or why they can’t receive their inheritance immediately.

Family disputes can arise, particularly if someone feels the will is unfair or if there are disagreements about how assets should be valued or distributed. Managing these expectations requires patience, clear communication, and sometimes a thick skin. Having a solicitor handle communications can remove you from the emotional firing line while ensuring everything is managed properly and impartially.

The process is lengthy and requires patience—there’s simply no way around this. Even straightforward estates take considerable time to administer properly, and complex estates can extend far longer. If the estate is insolvent or involves complicated assets, specialist advice isn’t just recommended—it’s essential.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

Here’s something important to understand: while you cannot delegate your core responsibilities as an executor, you absolutely can—and often should—instruct professionals to help you. Solicitors, accountants, and other specialists can handle much of the technical work while you retain overall responsibility and decision-making authority.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about taking on the role, you do have options. You can formally renounce your role as executor before you accept the position. Even after you’ve begun, professional help can take over much of the burden, making the process far less stressful.

It’s significantly less stressful to engage the services of a solicitor, particularly one experienced in estate administration. At Hutchinson & Buchanan, we’ve been guiding executors through this process for generations. As the oldest and most experienced law firm in Ripon, we’ve handled estates of all complexities—from straightforward cases to those involving international assets, business interests, and intricate family situations.

We pride ourselves on being patient listeners who understand that every estate is unique, and every executor’s circumstances are different. Many of our clients appreciate that we can handle the entire probate process on their behalf, lifting the administrative and legal burden while they focus on what matters most during a difficult time.

Moving Forward with Confidence

Being an executor is undoubtedly a significant undertaking, but it’s also a final act of service to someone who trusted you. Understanding what’s involved is the first step toward fulfilling that trust properly and protecting yourself from potential pitfalls along the way.

Remember, this article provides general guidance, but every estate is different. Some are genuinely straightforward, while others reveal unexpected complexities. Professional legal advice tailored to your specific situation isn’t just helpful—it’s a wise move, for navigating the process successfully and with peace of mind.

If you’ve been named as an executor and have questions about what lies ahead, or if you’re already partway through the process and finding it more challenging than anticipated, we’re here to help. At Hutchinson & Buchanan, our approach is built on integrity, experience, and a genuine commitment to making what can be an overwhelming process as smooth as possible.

Contact us for a free consultation. We’ll help you understand your responsibilities, avoid common pitfalls, and ensure the estate is administered properly and efficiently.