Being named as an executor is not an honour — it is a legal job. You are personally responsible for securing assets, valuing everything, paying debts and taxes, applying for probate (now £526), and distributing the estate exactly as the Will directs. The process takes 9 to 12 months for a simple estate and up to three years for a complex one.
The personal liability is real. Distribute too early and a creditor appears? You pay from your own pocket. Miss a tax deadline? HMRC charges you personally. Sell a property below value? The beneficiaries can sue you. You must place statutory notices in the Gazette, prepare full estate accounts, and get beneficiary sign-off before distributing a penny.
You can refuse the role before you start acting — but once you have taken any step, you are committed. Choose executors who are organised, impartial, and willing to commit the time. Name two, and consider a professional backup.