Executor Timeline: 6, 12, and 18-Month Checklists

What does an executor need to do at 6, 12, and 18 months?

1By 6 months: probate application submitted, IHT paid (to avoid interest), funeral paid, banks and institutions notified, immediate property matters secured.
2By 12 months: Grant of Probate received, all assets collected, debts paid, creditor advertisement completed, estate accounts prepared, most distributions made.
3By 18 months: all remaining distributions made, final tax returns filed, HMRC clearance obtained, executorship formally closed.
4IHT must be paid within 6 months of death — this is the most time-sensitive obligation. Everything else can flex, but missing the IHT deadline costs the estate money.
5Administration can take longer for complex estates — the executor's year is a protection against being forced to distribute early, not a hard deadline.

By 6 months: IHT paid, probate applied for. By 12 months: probate received, assets collected, debts paid, interim distributions made. By 18 months: final distributions, HMRC clearance, executorship closed. IHT at 6 months is the only hard deadline — everything else can flex for genuinely complex estates.

Weeks 1–4: Immediate Steps

✓Register the death and obtain death certificates (order at least 10 official copies)
✓Locate and safeguard the original will
✓Arrange the funeral (executors are not personally required to do this, but typically assist)
✓Secure property — change locks if unoccupied, notify insurer, redirect post
✓Notify key institutions of the death (banks, pension providers, DVLA, utility companies)
✓Use the government's Tell Us Once service to notify multiple departments simultaneously
✓Identify all assets and liabilities — request date-of-death balances from banks

See our estate administration checklist for a comprehensive overview of every task.

Months 1–3: Valuation and Probate Application

✓Obtain professional property valuations (RICS surveyor for property)
✓Value all investments, shares, and ISAs at date of death
✓Value all personal chattels (jewellery, vehicles, furniture) — items over £1,500 individually
✓Identify all gifts made in the 7 years before death (relevant to IHT)
✓Report the estate for inheritance tax (excepted estates report within the application; otherwise IHT400/IHT421)
✓Submit probate application (Form PA1P) to the Probate Registry
✓Pay probate fee (£526 for estates over £5,000)

For the application process in detail, see our guide on applying for probate and our probate documents checklist.

Month 6: The Critical IHT Deadline

IHT must be paid to HMRC within 6 months of the end of the month of death. Missing this deadline triggers interest at 7.5% per annum (2026 rate) on the unpaid tax — a significant cost.

✓Pay inheritance tax — use estate funds or a bank loan on the estate before probate if needed (banks may release funds to pay IHT before probate)
✓Chase probate application if not yet received (average processing time 8–16 weeks in 2026)
✓Publish creditor notice in London Gazette to begin the 2-month waiting period

See our guide on probate delays and IHT interest and our inheritance tax guide 2026–27.

Months 6–9: Collecting Assets and Paying Debts

✓Receive Grant of Probate (if not already received)
✓Send certified copies of the Grant to banks, investment houses, and other asset holders
✓Open an executor's bank account to hold estate funds
✓Close the deceased's accounts and transfer balances to the executor's account
✓Sell investments or transfer to beneficiaries as directed by the will
✓Pay all debts in the correct priority order. See our guide on debts after death
✓Begin the sale of property if required

Month 12: The Executor's Year Expires

✓Creditor advertisement period (2 months) should have expired — distribute confidently now
✓Prepare estate accounts showing all income and expenditure. See our guide on executor duty to account
✓Share estate accounts with beneficiaries and seek their approval
✓Make specific legacy distributions (gifts of money or specific items)
✓File the deceased's final income tax return

After 12 months, beneficiaries entitled to residue may apply to court if you have not distributed. Make sure you have a clear reason for any delay and communicate it. See our guide on the executor's year.

Months 12–18: Final Distribution and Close

✓Complete sale or transfer of property
✓Make residuary distributions to beneficiaries by bank transfer
✓Obtain signed receipts from all beneficiaries confirming they have received their entitlement
✓File estate tax returns (income arising in the administration period)
✓Obtain HMRC clearance certificate confirming all tax obligations are discharged
✓Close the executor's bank account
✓Retain all estate documents for at least 20 years

When Estates Take Longer

Complex estates — those involving overseas property, business interests, contested wills, or missing beneficiaries — routinely take 18–36 months. This is not a failure of administration, provided the executor is actively progressing the estate.

For specific complications, see our guides on:

For a deeper overview, see the complete UK probate guide.