What Does an Executor Have to Do After Someone Dies?

When someone dies, the executor named in their will becomes responsible for dealing with their estate. This can involve everything from locating financial accounts and protecting an empty property to paying debts, applying for probate and distributing inheritances.

It is an important role, but it can also feel overwhelming—particularly while you are grieving. Understanding what an executor has to do after someone dies can make the process feel more manageable and help you avoid costly mistakes.

What is an executor?

An executor is a person appointed in a will to administer the estate of someone who has died. The estate may include:

• Property and land
• Bank and savings accounts
• Investments and shares
• Pensions and life insurance policies
• Vehicles, jewellery and personal possessions
• Digital assets
• Money owed to the deceased
• Outstanding debts and tax liabilities

If there is no valid will, the person who deals with the estate is usually called an administrator. They must apply for letters of administration rather than a grant of probate. The responsibilities are broadly similar, although the estate must be distributed according to the rules of intestacy.

What are an executor’s responsibilities?

An executor is responsible for identifying, protecting and valuing the estate, settling the deceased’s financial affairs and ensuring the correct beneficiaries receive their inheritance.

Executors must act in the best interests of the estate and its beneficiaries. They must also keep accurate records and take reasonable steps to identify all assets, debts and entitled beneficiaries.

Here is what the role will usually involve.

1. Locate the will and confirm the executors

One of the first steps is to locate the deceased’s most recent valid will. This may be held:

• At the deceased’s home
• By a solicitor or professional will writer
• With a bank or will storage provider
• By a family member
• Through a will registration or search service

The will should identify the executors and explain how the deceased wanted their estate to be distributed. It may also include funeral wishes, details of specific gifts and the appointment of guardians for children.

It is important to establish that you have the latest version of the will before taking significant action.

2. Register the death and obtain death certificates

The death will normally need to be registered within five days in England and Wales, unless it has been referred to a coroner.

Several organisations may require an official copy of the death certificate, so obtaining multiple certified copies can make the administration process easier.

The government’s Tell Us Once service can be used to notify certain public bodies, including HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Passport Office and the DVLA.

3. Secure the deceased’s property

If the deceased owned a property, particularly one that is now empty, the executor should take prompt steps to protect it.

This may include:

• Checking that doors and windows are secure
• Informing the home insurance provider
• Reviewing the insurer’s requirements for an unoccupied property
• Redirecting post
• Taking meter readings
• Turning off unnecessary appliances
• Arranging regular property inspections
• Managing the garden and general maintenance
• Protecting valuable possessions
• Preventing water damage, leaks or deterioration

An empty probate property can quickly become vulnerable to burglary, weather damage and insurance problems. Executors should not assume that an existing home insurance policy will continue unchanged after the owner’s death.

4. Identify all assets and liabilities

The executor must build an accurate picture of everything the deceased owned and owed.

This can involve contacting:

• Banks and building societies
• Mortgage and loan providers
• Pension administrators
• Investment and share providers
• Insurance companies
• Utility companies
• Credit card providers
• Employers
• Government departments
• Business partners or accountants

Executors should also look for less obvious assets, such as dormant accounts, premium bonds, overseas holdings, digital assets and money owed to the deceased.

If the financial records are incomplete, a professional asset search may help identify accounts or investments that could otherwise be missed.

5. Value the estate

The assets and liabilities must be valued as at the date of death. This is necessary to establish the estate’s total value, determine whether Inheritance Tax may be due and support any probate application.

Property should be valued appropriately, and higher-value possessions such as jewellery, artwork, antiques or vehicles may require professional valuations.

The executor will generally need to calculate:

• The gross value of the estate
• The value of allowable debts and liabilities
• The net value of the estate
• Any lifetime gifts that need to be considered
• Whether relevant tax allowances or exemptions may apply

The government provides specific guidance on valuing an estate for Inheritance Tax.

6. Deal with Inheritance Tax

Inheritance Tax is not payable on every estate, but the executor must still determine whether the estate needs to be reported to HMRC.

Where Inheritance Tax is due, some or all of it may need to be paid before probate can be granted. The rules can be complicated, particularly where the estate includes property, lifetime gifts, trusts, business interests or overseas assets.

Executors should obtain appropriate professional advice if they are uncertain about the estate’s tax position.

7. Apply for a grant of probate

A grant of probate is the legal document that confirms an executor’s authority to administer the estate.

Probate is not required in every case. For example, it may not be necessary where the estate is small or assets were owned jointly and pass automatically to a surviving owner. Individual banks and financial institutions may also have their own limits.

Where probate is required, the estate must normally be valued before the application can be completed. Current application information is available through the government’s probate guidance.

If there is no will, the person entitled to deal with the estate may need to apply for letters of administration instead.

8. Collect or transfer the estate’s assets

Once probate has been granted, the executor can begin collecting the deceased’s assets.

This could involve:

• Closing bank and investment accounts
• Claiming life insurance proceeds
• Collecting money owed to the estate
• Transferring or selling shares
• Selling or transferring property
• Selling vehicles and personal possessions
• Recovering overpaid tax
• Managing any income generated during the administration period

Money belonging to the estate should be kept separate from the executor’s own funds, usually in a dedicated executor or estate account.

9. Pay debts, expenses and taxes

Before distributing money to beneficiaries, the executor must identify and settle valid debts and liabilities.

These could include:

• Funeral costs
• Mortgages and secured lending
• Credit cards and personal loans
• Household bills
• Care fees
• Income Tax
• Inheritance Tax
• Professional and administration expenses

Executors may consider placing statutory notices to help identify unknown creditors before the estate is distributed. This can offer some protection against personal liability, although it does not remove the debt itself.

Government guidance confirms that debts and taxes should be settled before the remaining estate is distributed to beneficiaries. See settling debts and taxes.

10. Identify and contact the beneficiaries

The executor must confirm the identity and location of everyone entitled to inherit.

This can become more complicated when:

• A beneficiary has moved
• Contact has been lost
• A beneficiary has died
• The will uses an unclear description
• Family relationships are uncertain
• Someone died without a will
• There are unknown or missing relatives

Professional genealogy research may be needed to trace missing beneficiaries or verify a family tree. Distributing an estate to the wrong person—or overlooking someone who is legally entitled to inherit—can expose an executor to personal liability.

11. Prepare estate accounts

Executors should keep detailed records throughout the administration.

The final estate accounts will usually show:

• The assets and their date-of-death values
• Money collected by the estate
• Property sale proceeds
• Debts and liabilities paid
• Tax paid
• Administration expenses
• Interim payments to beneficiaries
• The final amount available for distribution
• How each beneficiary’s entitlement was calculated

Residuary beneficiaries will usually be asked to review and approve the estate accounts before the final distribution is made.

12. Distribute the estate

Once the executor is satisfied that the estate’s assets have been collected, debts and taxes have been paid, beneficiaries have been verified and any potential claims have been considered, the remaining estate can be distributed.

Distribution must follow the terms of the will. If there is no valid will, the estate must be distributed under the intestacy rules.

Executors should avoid distributing an estate too early. If an unexpected debt, tax bill, beneficiary or legal claim emerges after all the money has been paid out, the executor could be personally responsible for resolving the shortfall.

Can an executor be held personally liable?

Yes. An executor could face personal liability if they:

• Distribute the estate to the wrong beneficiaries
• Pay beneficiaries before settling debts and taxes
• Fail to protect estate property
• Undervalue or overlook assets
• Mismanage estate funds
• Distribute the estate too soon
• Fail to keep appropriate records
• Act contrary to the will

This does not mean executors should be frightened of accepting the role. It does mean they should work carefully, document their decisions and seek professional assistance when the estate is complex or they are unsure how to proceed.

How long does an executor have to administer an estate?

There is no single timescale that applies to every estate.

A straightforward estate may be completed relatively quickly, while an estate involving property, Inheritance Tax, missing beneficiaries, overseas assets, business interests or a dispute can take considerably longer.

Executors are expected to make reasonable progress, but they should prioritise accuracy over rushing to distribute an estate.

Does an executor have to do everything personally?

No. An executor remains responsible for the administration, but they can appoint professionals to help with specific tasks or manage much of the process on their behalf.

Support may include:

• Asset and liability searches
• Probate and estate administration
• Genealogy and beneficiary tracing
• Property valuations
• Empty-property inspections
• Maintenance and repairs
• House clearances
• Property sales
• Estate accounts
• Beneficiary communication

Getting help can be particularly valuable when the executor lives some distance away, has limited time, is dealing with a complex estate or simply does not know where to begin.

How EstateCare can help

Being named as an executor can feel like a privilege, but it can also bring a significant administrative and personal burden.

EstateCare provides practical support throughout the estate administration process. From identifying assets and tracing beneficiaries to protecting, maintaining and selling probate property, our team can help executors manage the work with greater clarity and confidence.

You do not have to handle every part of the estate alone.

If you are acting as an executor and would like to discuss what needs to happen next, contact Harrisons Private Client Solutions to find out how EstateCare could support you.

This article provides general information for estates in England and Wales and does not constitute legal or tax advice.