Why your Will isn't enough on its own
Most people think that having a Will means their executor is sorted. But a Will only deals with who inherits what. It doesn't tell your executor where your bank accounts are, what insurance policies you have, who your accountant is, or how to access your online accounts.
Without this information, your executor is left searching through drawers, making dozens of phone calls, and trying to piece together your financial life from scratch. It's stressful, time-consuming, and often leads to things being missed entirely.
The information your executor actually needs
Here's a comprehensive list of what you should prepare:
Financial accounts
- Bank accounts — current, savings, and joint accounts
- ISAs and investment accounts
- Pension details (workplace and personal)
- Premium Bonds
- Cryptocurrency or digital assets
- Any money owed to you or by you
Property and assets
- Property deeds and mortgage details
- Vehicle registration documents
- Valuable items (jewellery, art, collections)
- Business interests or partnerships
Insurance policies
- Life insurance (this is often the most time-sensitive)
- Home and contents insurance
- Car insurance
- Private health insurance
- Income protection or critical illness cover
Important contacts
- Solicitor
- Accountant
- Financial adviser
- Doctor / GP surgery
- Employer (if applicable)
Digital life
- Email accounts
- Social media accounts
- Subscriptions and memberships
- Online shopping accounts
- Cloud storage
Personal wishes
- Funeral preferences (burial or cremation, location, music)
- Messages to family members
- Charitable donations you'd like made
- Pet care arrangements
How to organise all of this
You could put this together yourself in a folder or spreadsheet. But the easiest way is to use a Executor Pack — a professionally produced document that captures all of this information in one organised, secure pack.
An Executor Pack sits alongside your Will and gives your executor a single point of reference for everything they need. No searching, no guessing, no missing details.
The bottom line
Your Will handles the legal side. An Executor Pack handles the practical side. Together, they give your executor everything they need to carry out your wishes quickly, efficiently, and without unnecessary stress.