Executor duties checklist template
When to use it
- You have been named as an executor and want to understand what the law expects of you.
- There are two or more executors and you need to divide the work.
- You are worried about personal liability and want a record that you did everything properly.
How to use it
- Read it once all the way through before starting — some duties carry personal liability.
- Initial and date each item; the signed list becomes part of your evidence of proper administration.
- Anything you cannot do yourself (or do not want to) can be delegated, but the responsibility stays with you.
Duties at the start
- Locate the most recent will and check for codicils
- Decide whether you accept the role (you can renounce before you start acting)
- Protect the estate: secure property, insure valuables, freeze known accounts
- Notify beneficiaries named in the will that the administration has started
Duties during administration
- Value every asset and debt as at the date of death
- Report to HMRC and pay any Inheritance Tax due
- Apply for the grant of probate and collect in the assets
- Keep clear records of every payment in and out
- Keep beneficiaries reasonably informed of progress
Duties at the end
- Pay funeral costs, debts and taxes before any beneficiary
- Pay specific gifts and legacies in the order the law requires
- Prepare final estate accounts and have them approved by the residuary beneficiaries
- Distribute the residue and obtain receipts
- Keep the papers safe — queries can arise years later
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Apply For Probate Online is an independent self-help service and is not part of HM Courts & Tribunals Service or GOV.UK.
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