Executor checklist generator

For a straightforward estate that is settled without argument, six to twelve months from the date of death to final distribution is a common range. A property to sell, a business interest, assets in another state or country, no will, or beneficiaries who cannot receive money directly all add months. Estates that run for two years or more are usually held up by a property that will not sell, a tax clearance, or a dispute.

In most places it is either required or strongly expected, and it is the single practical decision that makes the rest of the job easier. One account holding only estate money means the final account writes itself and no one can suggest estate money went astray. Using your own current account, even briefly, is the mistake executors regret most.

A dated record of every pound or dollar that goes into and out of the estate, with a running balance after each line: sale proceeds and closed accounts in, funeral costs, debts, professional fees, executor expenses and distributions out. It is what a final estate account is built from, and what a beneficiary or a court will ask to see.

What an asset was worth on the day the person died, rather than what it later sold for. Courts and tax authorities generally work from date-of-death values, so record both that figure and the eventual sale price, and keep the valuation or statement that supports it.

Four jobs, in this order: protect the assets and notify the organisations that need to know; establish your authority and find out exactly what the estate owns and owes; collect the money in, pay the valid debts and taxes, and sell or transfer what has to go; then account for all of it in writing, distribute what is left and close the estate.

Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses paid on the estate's behalf, such as court fees, travel, postage and insurance, are normally reimbursable if you keep the receipts. Whether you can also charge a fee for your time depends on the jurisdiction, the will and sometimes the beneficiaries' agreement, so check before assuming either way.

Someone still has to do the job, but they apply to be appointed rather than being named, and the estate is divided by a fixed statutory order rather than by anyone's preference. Expect a slower start, occasionally a bond or extra court supervision, and a period spent establishing exactly who is entitled before anything can be promised.

Debts are generally paid from the estate, not from your own money. The risk to an executor personally comes from acting out of order: distributing to beneficiaries before valid debts and taxes are settled, or paying claims in the wrong priority. If the estate may not cover everything it owes, get advice before paying anyone.

Usually not, and it is rarely wise. Most banks and registries will not release anything until your authority is granted, and distributing early exposes you personally if a debt, a tax bill or a later claim appears. Assets with a named beneficiary, such as some insurance policies and retirement accounts, often pass outside the estate and follow their own timetable.

Order more than you think: ten certified copies is a common starting point. Many banks, insurers, registries and pension providers keep the copy they are given, and ordering more later usually means another fee and another wait at a point when you are trying to close accounts.

No. It lists the administrative work that is common to almost every estate, in the order it usually happens, with typical timings. Names differ, some steps do not exist in some places, and real deadlines are set by your court, registry or tax authority. Treat every date it prints as a planning target, not a legal deadline.

No. The whole calculation runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, nothing is saved between visits, there is no account and no email address is asked for. Close the tab and the answers are gone, so print or save the list if you want to keep it.