As the executor of a will, it’s your responsibility to carry out the wishes of the deceased. This is not an easy task and may end up being on the most difficult tasks of your life. After all, you will be dealing with the assets of the person who has passed, as well as any liabilities that will be required to be dealt with. It can be a stressful position, especially knowing that you could be the person who is held liable if something goes wrong. Things may be a little easier to cope with now that the lockdown is easing down. However, we understand that you may still be feeling worried about the responsibilities you will now have to undertake.
Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are prepared to help you understand your duties during this difficult time. That way you will have time to grieve and still be able to undertake what is necessary. Our law firm has expert will-writers ready to help you write as will, as well as provide advice on how to be an executor of a will. To find out more, call us today on 0800 041 8350 or use the button below to visit our will-writing page.
The Basics of Will-Writing
Before we give you some advice on how to be an executor of a will, let’s have a quick chat about will-writing in general. If you are going to write a will, you are creating a legal document that will show your last wishes. It is legally binding and will detail who will receive what asset. If you own a lot of assets/property, it is wise to create a will just in case. That way if you sadly pass away, your possessions won’t be divided by the courts. Instead, you can have a say over what should happen, as well as who will end up being the executor of your will.
Take a look below to get a better idea of how you can validate your will, if you plan on writing one in the future:
If you are feeling a little nervous about lockdown causing a problem with your will, don’t worry. You can meet your witnesses outside and wear PPE (i.e gloves and masks) when you see other people. If you want to take extra precautions, you can even use different pens to ensure that you do not exchange germs with the other witnesses.
For more information on writing a will, speak to one of our solicitors. They can work with you remotely to ensure you are safe but still get the advice that you need.
What do I do if I am the executor of a will?
Now that we have talked about will-writing in general, let’s have a quick chat about what it means to be an executor of a will. If you have been asked to carry out the wishes of the will. You will need to make important choices in order to make sure the will is fully fulfilled. This can be a bit of a daunting prospect, especially if you have never done this sort of thing before. That’s why it’s important to get in contact with a solicitor. That way you can feel confident that you are doing the right thing, especially in relation to funeral preparations.
The best thing you can start off with is a “to-do list”. That way if there is more than one executor named in the will, you can update each other on different tasks. A list will also help you figure out the task’s timescale and which duties you will need to get completed first. It will also help you keep organized (especially in terms of your paperwork and conversations with people who are involved in the will. Keep in mind that you may also need to contact certain organizations about the person’s death, as well as submit tax returns and liabilities. You will also need to be in contact to the beneficiaries of the will, especially if you need to sell/transfer any property. By remaining organized, this will lessen the chance of mistakes being made during the will’s execution.
Who should I pick as the executor of a will?
Being an executor of a will is not an easy task. When you make a will, don’t forget that it’s important to make sure that the person you pick as executor has enough time to carry out their expected duties. You need to pick someone that you can trust. After all, they will understand that the significance of the assets that they will be handling. However, remember that they cannot be beneficiaries of your will. They need to act responsibly and have your best wishes at heart. That way your estate can be divided fairly. Make sure you speak to your executor before you make your will. The last thing you want to do is leave them surprised.
If you cannot chose your own executor, you can decide to contact a professional executor to help you. They have specialist knowledge about wills that can make you feel more confident that your last wishes will be handled accordingly. As they are also a third-party that is unrelated to your family, you can trust that they will act in your best interest.
Speak to Gowing Law Solicitors today about your will
Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we understand that writing a will is going to be one of the most difficult tasks you undertake. That’s why we want to make sure that you are supported throughout this difficult process. We can offer free advice and consultations to get you started. These can all be handled remotely to ensure that you are protected during the pandemic, but still are able to feel secure about your future. If you decide to work with us, we can offer services for the following prices:
Contact our law firm today to learn more. You can call us on 0800 041 8350, email us at info@gowinglaw.co.uk or use our claims checker. From there, one of our solicitors will be there to talk to you about your will. Feel free to ask them any additional questions that you may have. We look forward to seeing you soon.
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