Who can be an executor when making a Will

If you are looking into making a will, either an online will, through your Solicitor or you wish to attempt a DIY will and end up with a cheap will that may be challenged or be unlawful. One of the key questions is who can be an executor when making a willl. Many people are not sure who can act as an executor and how many executors you need or is advisable to have.
An executor can be your spouse or partner, and for a couple looking to make a joint will it is advisable to appoint each other as the first executor as it makes things easier on the death of the first partner. Also beneficiaries of the will can also be executors, which is a common misconception held by many. Beneficiaries, such as children can also be executors and can be a good selection as they are in a position to carry out the wishes contained in the will.
If there is not a partner or child willing to act then the next best person would be a relative, sibling or trusted friend. You will need to check with these people before naming them when making a will and see if they are willing to act. If so then you need to explain what is required of an executor as most people are not aware of the duties and responsibilities imposed on executors.
Finally, if you have nobody else to act then you can instruct your solicitor to be the executor while also making a will. Here the partners of the firm of solicitors are appointed and no matter if the individual solicitor is not available to act then alternative partners can step in and act.
So, if you are making a will, a will through a firm of solicitors or one of those cheap wills then be sure to think carefully who you want to be and who can be an executor when 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.