Gifts in wills

Executors are the people you choose to carry out your wishes made in your will after your death. When making your will, your solicitor will ask you who you wish to appoint as executors of your will.  

Anyone aged 18 or above can be an executor of your will and they can be a beneficiary. You may choose to appoint your partner, children, or a close friend. It will be helpful if they are good at paperwork and managing legal issues. Be mindful, though, that they will be dealing with a bereavement as well as carrying out the wishes of your will. Make sure you ask them first if they are happy to be your executor because if they say no, you will need to amend your will or make a new will.  

You can also appoint a professional, such as a solicitor, bank or accountant, to be an executor of your will instead of or as well as a family member. This is recommended if you have a particularly complex estate because it can be helpful to have someone with specialist knowledge involved. Professionals can charge for this service, a fee which is often deducted from your estate after you die or written into your will as a percentage.  

You may choose up to four executors, but they must act jointly so it’s often more practical to appoint fewer than four. It’s a good idea to choose two executors in case one of them dies before you do.  

If you don’t have anybody to appoint as your executor, there’s a government official called the Public Trustee who will be your executor. Find out more about Public Trustees.