The Role of an Executor

The people are legally allowed to deal with a deceased person’s estate are generally referred to as the Executors (nominated as such in a Will) or Administrators (where there is no Will). The term “personal representatives” is often used in reference to both Executors and Administrators.

Acting as an Executor of a Will can be a very daunting prospect. The role carries with it a considerable amount of legal, tax and administrative responsibilities.

It is crucial to get everything right because the Executor is legally responsible for administering the estate in accordance with both the terms of the Will, and the law. Although in practice an Executor’s responsibilities last for the duration of the administration of the estate (often a year) and can also carry on into any ongoing trust.

An Executor is in effect a role for life – if any claims against the estate arise in the future, the executor is responsible for dealing with them and carrying out the duties correctly.