Being named as an executor: where do you start?
If someone has named you as the executor of their Will, you've been trusted with an important responsibility. But most people have no idea what's actually involved until they're thrown into it — often while grieving.
This checklist gives you a clear, step-by-step guide to everything you'll need to do as an executor in the UK.
Immediate steps (first few days)
- Register the death with the local registry office (within 5 days in England and Wales)
- Obtain multiple copies of the death certificate (you'll need several)
- Locate the Will and any accompanying documents
- Notify the deceased's GP and any care providers
- Secure the property if it's now unoccupied
- Arrange the funeral (check if the deceased left specific wishes)
Notify organisations (first few weeks)
- Banks and building societies
- Pension providers (workplace and private)
- Insurance companies (life, home, car, health)
- HMRC — for income tax and any inheritance tax
- DWP — if the deceased received benefits
- Mortgage provider
- Utility companies
- Council — for council tax
- DVLA — if the deceased owned a vehicle
- Employer — if the deceased was still working
Apply for probate
- Value the estate — list all assets and debts
- Complete the inheritance tax forms (even if no tax is due)
- Apply for a Grant of Probate through the Probate Registry
- Pay any inheritance tax due (this may need to happen before the Grant is issued)
Administer the estate
- Collect all assets — close accounts, sell property if needed
- Pay any outstanding debts, bills, and funeral costs
- Deal with income tax for the period up to the date of death
- Prepare estate accounts
- Distribute the estate according to the Will
- Keep detailed records of everything
Close the estate
- Ensure all beneficiaries have received their inheritance
- Close any remaining accounts
- Keep copies of all paperwork for at least 12 years
How an Executor Pack makes this easier
The hardest part of being an executor isn't the legal process — it's finding the information. Which bank accounts did they have? Who's the pension provider? What's the mortgage account number?
A Executor Pack answers all these questions in one organised document. If the person who appointed you as executor had an Executor Pack, the entire process above becomes dramatically simpler.
If you're making your own Will and naming an executor, consider getting an Executor Pack to make their job as easy as possible.
