What Does an Executor Do?
An executor is the person named in a will to deal with the estate after the person who made the will dies.
An executor is the person named in a will to deal with the estate after the person who made the will dies.
It can sound like an honorary family role. In reality it can involve months of administration, financial responsibility and difficult conversations at exactly the time the executor may also be grieving.
Understanding the job makes it easier to think about who could realistically take it on.
What does the executor actually do?
The work varies with the estate.
It can include locating the original will, identifying property and accounts, valuing the estate, establishing debts, dealing with inheritance-tax information where relevant, applying for probate, collecting assets, paying liabilities and distributing the estate to the beneficiaries.
Government guidance confirms that a person named as executor can apply for probate and will normally need the original will.
An executor is not automatically a beneficiary
The roles are different.
An executor administers the estate. A beneficiary receives something from it.
The same person can be both, but naming somebody as executor does not itself mean they inherit, and naming somebody as a beneficiary does not make them responsible for administering the estate.
Who might be suitable?
Think about reliability rather than status within the family.
Could the person keep records, deal with correspondence, make decisions without being overwhelmed and communicate with beneficiaries who may disagree?
Distance is not necessarily fatal, but practical availability matters. So can family dynamics.
You can discuss the possibility with somebody before naming them rather than allowing them to discover the role after your death.
Can there be more than one executor?
Yes.
People sometimes appoint more than one executor so responsibility can be shared or different skills can be brought together.
But multiple executors can also create practical difficulties if relationships are poor or decisions become deadlocked.
Whether one person, several people or a professional appointment is appropriate depends on the estate and circumstances and is a matter for qualified advice.
What if the executor does not want to act?
Being named does not necessarily mean somebody must personally carry out every aspect of the administration.
Different options may exist depending on whether they have already become involved in administering the estate.
Because taking steps can affect the available choices, somebody who does not want to act should obtain advice before beginning to deal with estate assets.
Professional help can still be used
An executor does not have to know probate law, tax and property administration from memory.
Professional assistance can be obtained where required, particularly with complex estates, property, businesses, tax issues, overseas assets or disputes.
The important point is that the executor remains a legal role with responsibilities; it should not be treated simply as the person who organises the funeral.
A useful conversation to have now
If you are considering appointing somebody, tell them.
Explain where the will would be stored and the broad nature of your affairs. Ask whether they would be comfortable being named.
You do not need to hand them every financial detail today. Giving them enough information to understand the responsibility is a sensible start.
Last reviewed
5 September 2026
Important legal informationThis guide provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. It is not intended to recommend any particular legal arrangement, course of action or solution. Wills, inheritance, trusts, powers of attorney, mental capacity and related matters can have significant legal and financial consequences, and the appropriate approach will depend on individual circumstances. Professionally qualified legal advice should be sought before making, changing or acting upon important legal arrangements or decisions.