I've Been Named Executor — What Do I Do First?

Step 1: Register the Death

In England and Wales, the death must be registered within 5 days at the local register office. In Scotland the deadline is 8 days. You will need the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death issued by the attending doctor or hospital.

When you register the death you will receive the Death Certificate (form BD8) and a green "certificate for burial or cremation" (unless the coroner is already involved). Order multiple certified copies of the Death Certificate — you will need one for the Probate Registry, one for each bank, and one for HMRC. Typically 10–15 copies is a sensible starting number; each copy costs £11 at registration or £11 if ordered later from the General Register Office.

If a coroner is involved (sudden, unexplained, or violent death), you cannot register until the coroner issues permission. The coroner will notify you of the process — do not rush them.

For a full explanation of immediate tasks, see our guide on what to do when someone dies.

Step 2: Locate the Will

As executor, you must obtain the original will — photocopies are generally not accepted by the Probate Registry. Check the deceased's home (filing cabinets, safes, desk drawers), their solicitor, their bank (some banks hold wills in safe custody), and the National Wills Register.

If you cannot find the will, you should search the National Wills Register (operated by Certainty) and also consider placing a notice in The Gazette (the official public record). For a detailed guide to the search process, see our dedicated guide on how to locate a will.

If no will can be found, the estate is treated as intestate and you will need to apply for Letters of Administration using form PA1A rather than a Grant of Probate using PA1P. For more on this distinction, see our guide to PA1P vs PA1A: which probate application form to use.

Step 3: Secure Assets and Notify Institutions

Before you have a Grant of Probate you cannot access most of the deceased's assets, but you can and should notify relevant institutions to prevent fraud and stop ongoing payments.

• Banks and building societies: Notify each bank in writing. Most will freeze accounts pending probate. Ask for the balance as at the date of death (needed for valuation).
• HMRC: Call HMRC Bereavement line to advise of the death and obtain a tax reference. HMRC will also stop Child Benefit if applicable.
• DWP / Pension Service: Stop state pension and any other DWP benefits. Overpayments after death must be repaid.
• Local authority: Notify for council tax and any housing benefit.
• Insurers: Keep home, contents, and motor insurance active until assets are distributed. Notify them of the death — some policies have restrictions once the sole owner dies.
• Employer / pension providers: Notify the employer (for salary/final payment) and any private pension providers regarding death benefits and nomination of beneficiary forms.

Using the government's Tell Us Once service allows you to notify many central and local government departments in a single step. Ask the registrar for a unique reference number when you register the death.

Step 4: Understand Your Legal Duties as Executor

Being executor is a fiduciary role — you must act in the interests of the estate and its beneficiaries, not your own interests. Key duties include:

• Collecting all assets and valuing them accurately as at the date of death.
• Paying all debts, taxes, and legitimate expenses of the estate.
• Filing accurate inheritance tax returns with HMRC — errors or omissions can result in penalties and interest charges.
• Distributing the residuary estate to the correct beneficiaries as directed by the will.
• Keeping proper accounts throughout the administration — you may be called upon to produce these by the beneficiaries.
• Not distributing the estate until all debts and taxes are settled (or you risk personal liability for unpaid debts).

You can decline the role of executor (called "renouncing probate") if you have not yet taken any steps to administer the estate — but once you have started acting you cannot renounce. If you are uncertain whether to accept, read our guide on DIY probate vs using a solicitor before deciding.

Step 5: Value the Estate

To apply for probate and to calculate any inheritance tax due, you must value every asset and liability as at the date of death. This is the "date of death valuation." The main asset classes to value are:

You must also value liabilities: mortgages, credit cards, personal loans, utility arrears, and any outstanding income tax. Net estate value (assets minus liabilities) determines the inheritance tax position.

Step 6: Determine Whether Inheritance Tax Is Due

Inheritance tax (IHT) is charged at 40% on the taxable portion of the estate. For 2026–27 the nil-rate band is £325,000 and the residence nil-rate band (RNRB) is up to £175,000 — giving a potential combined threshold of £500,000 per person. Spouses can also transfer any unused nil-rate band from a deceased spouse, potentially doubling these thresholds.

For a thorough explanation of the calculation, exemptions, and reliefs available, read our inheritance tax guide for 2026–27.

Since January 2022, all estates requiring a full inheritance tax return must file an IHT400 form — the simplified IHT205 return has been abolished. Even if no IHT is due but the estate is non-excepted, you must file IHT400. See our IHT400 form guide for a complete walkthrough.

Step 7: Apply for Probate

Once you have valued the estate and submitted your IHT forms, you can apply for the Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration if there is no will). The application is made online via the GOV.UK probate service or by post to the Probate Registry.

The application fee is £300 for estates over £5,000 (as of 2026). You will need:

• The original will and any codicils.
• An official copy of the death certificate.
• Completed PA1P form (or PA1A if intestate).
• IHT reference number from HMRC (issued once your IHT400 is submitted).

For the full application process see our guide to applying for probate, and for help with the forms see PA1P vs PA1A: which form to use.

If IHT is due you must pay it (or at least pay the first instalment) before probate is granted. See our guide to paying IHT before probate via the Direct Payment Scheme.

Step 8: Collect the Assets

Once you receive the Grant of Probate you can collect and transfer assets. Send sealed copies of the Grant (order at least 10 when applying — each costs £1.50) to each institution. The process differs slightly by asset type:

• Bank accounts: Send Grant plus death certificate to each bank. Funds will be transferred to the estate bank account — see collecting bank accounts after probate.
• Investments: Contact the registrar (e.g. Computershare, Link Asset Services) — see collecting investments after probate.
• Pension death benefit: The trustees decide on nomination, but you may need to claim — see collecting pension death benefit.
• Property: Register transfer at Land Registry using AS1 form — see transferring property with AS1 assent form.

Step 9: Pay Debts and Advertise for Creditors

Before distributing to beneficiaries, you must pay all debts and expenses. The law prescribes a strict order of priority for payment if the estate is insolvent. Even in a solvent estate you must be systematic to avoid personal liability for unpaid debts you overlooked.

To protect yourself, you should place a Statutory Notice to Creditors in The Gazette and a local newspaper. This gives creditors two months to come forward. If unknown creditors emerge after distribution and you have placed this notice, you are protected from personal liability. See our guide to advertising for creditors in the Gazette.

For the correct order in which debts must be paid, see paying the estate's debts: the correct order of priority. For background on what happens to debts when someone dies, see our guide to debts after death.

Step 10: Distribute to Beneficiaries and Prepare Final Accounts

Once all assets are collected and all debts are paid, you can distribute to the beneficiaries as directed by the will. Before doing so, you should prepare a set of estate accounts showing all income, expenses, and distributions. Beneficiaries are entitled to see these accounts and may ask for them before signing a receipt.

You may also need to file an SA900 estate tax return if the estate received income (interest, dividends, rent) during administration exceeding £500 — see our guide to the SA900 estate income tax return.

For the full process of distributing cash and obtaining receipts, see distributing cash to beneficiaries. For preparing the final accounts, see what executor final accounts must contain.

The Executor's Year: Your Time Limit

The law gives executors 12 months from the date of death — called the "executor's year" — to administer the estate before beneficiaries can apply to court to compel distribution. This does not mean you should take a year; rather it is the outer limit within which you must act with reasonable diligence.

Complex estates (multiple properties, business interests, overseas assets, or disputed wills) routinely take 12–24 months. Straightforward estates should typically complete within 6–9 months. If there are likely to be delays, communicate regularly with beneficiaries to manage expectations.

For a step-by-step overview of the entire timeline, see our estate administration checklist or our probate checklist.

Do You Need a Solicitor?

DIY probate is entirely legal and manageable for most estates. However, professional help is worth considering if:

• The will is being contested or there is doubt about its validity.
• The estate is insolvent (debts exceed assets).
• There are overseas assets requiring foreign probate.
• The estate includes a business or complex trust arrangements.
• Significant IHT is due and you want to ensure all reliefs are claimed.

Compare the costs in our guide to DIY probate vs solicitor costs. Ready to start? Use our free estate administration tool to build your personalised task list.

Key Documents Checklist

Keep the following documents safe throughout the administration — you will need to refer to them repeatedly:

• Original will and any codicils.
• Multiple certified copies of the death certificate.
• Grant of Probate (once issued) — sealed copies, not photocopies.
• All asset valuations with the valuers' reports.
• IHT400 and all supplementary schedules filed with HMRC.
• Correspondence with every bank, institution, and government body.
• Estate bank account statements throughout administration.
• Receipts signed by beneficiaries on distribution.
• Final estate accounts.

For guidance on what documents are needed for probate, see our guide to what documents you need for probate.