By Mike Hardy, Abacus Advice Wills & Estates. November 2026.
Your executor is the person who carries out your will. They collect in what you owned, pay your debts and any tax, apply for probate and then share out what is left. It is an important job, and it often lands on someone at the worst possible time. So it pays to choose with care.
What an executor actually does
In plain terms, your executor will:
find your will and register the death
list and value everything you owned and everything you owed
work out and pay any inheritance tax, usually by the end of the sixth month after death
apply for probate, the court's permission to deal with your estate
close accounts, sell or transfer property and investments, and pay the bills
keep a record of every penny and share out the estate as your will says
Most estates take between nine months and two years to finish. Executors can be held personally responsible if they pay out money before the debts and tax are settled, so it is not a job to give to someone who is careless with paperwork.
Who can you choose?
You can choose almost any adult you trust. Many people pick their husband, wife or partner, a grown-up child, a brother or sister, or a close friend. Your executor can also inherit under your will. That is normal and perfectly fine.
A few points to think about:
Trust and good sense. They will handle money and make decisions on behalf of your family.
Organisation. There will be forms, letters, banks and HMRC to deal with.
Age and health. If you choose someone your own age, they may not outlive you or feel up to the work.
Family peace. Naming one child out of three can cause hurt. Naming two who do not get on can cause delay.
One rule catches people out. Your witnesses, and their husbands, wives or civil partners, cannot inherit under your will. So never ask an executor who is also a beneficiary to witness your signature.
How many executors?
We usually suggest two executors, plus one or two replacements in case either of them cannot act. Two people share the work and check each other. A replacement means your will still works if your first choice dies before you or does not want the job.
You can name more, but only four executors can be named on the probate application. If you leave money in trust for children or grandchildren, your executors often become the trustees too, so choose people who can serve for many years.
What if they do not want the job?
Nobody is forced to act. An executor can step back for now and keep the right to apply later, as long as another executor is applying. Or they can give up the role for good by signing a form (form PA15). That is why naming a replacement matters.
It is kind to ask people before you name them. Tell them where your original will is kept and give them a list of your bank accounts, pensions, investments and insurance policies.
Should you choose a professional?
You can name a solicitor or another firm as your executor. That can make sense if the estate is complex, if there is family tension, or if you have no one suitable. Professionals charge for their time, so check the likely cost before you choose.
Pensions will add to the job from 2027
For deaths on or after 6 April 2027, most unused pensions will count towards inheritance tax. Your executors will have to find every pension, get a value from each scheme and report it to HMRC. Keeping an up-to-date list of your pensions will help them a great deal. Our sister firm, Abacus Advice Ltd, explains what this means for your pension nomination forms at aaltd.co.uk. Regulated pension and investment advice is available there.
Book a free first chat
If your will names executors who are no longer the right choice, or you do not have a will at all, it is worth putting right. I can talk it through with you on a free first chat by video call. Book a free first chat or call 01892 320449.
This article is general information about the law in England and Wales on 9 November 2026. It is not legal advice for your situation.
Written by Mike Hardy DipFA, Abacus Advice Wills & Estates, Tunbridge Wells.