Choosing executors for your Will

When making a will it is important to consider who to choose as an executor. An Executor is someone who deals with the administration of the estate of someone who has died. An Executor is appointed because he or she is trusted by the person making a will and is responsible for collecting in the assets of the estate and administering them to the Beneficiaries named in the deceased's Will.
An Executor can be an individual or a trust corporation. Quite often more than one Executor is appointed by someone who is making a will. Where more than one Executor is appointed the Executors have to act jointly and reach decisions by a majority.
An Executor has to be over 18 and cannot be bankrupt.

Executors can also benefit from the deceased's Will.

Executors always have to act in the best interests of the Beneficiaries and are often also appointed Trustees.
An Executor job starts immediately after the death and finishes once all of the assets have been administered.

I am thinking of making a will - who do I name as an Executor?

When making a will, you should always appoint someone who:-

o You trust implicitly
o Is of roughly the same age as you
o Is over 18 and not bankrupt
o Is financially astute or has a close association with the family

Whilst it is not a requirement, you should discuss your choice of appointment with your Executors prior to making a will, to ensure that they are happy to act.

The role of an executor is, therefore, of paramount importance to anyone considering making a will.

I have a blog which highlights the importance of Will writing and covers the reasons as to why one should write a Will. It was stated that over 70% of the UK population do not have a Will, therefore i set out to create a source of information online to assist those that do not have a Will and point the reasons as to why you should write a Will.