Many people wonder what the Executor of a Will is entitled to, though they often don’t feel comfortable asking the person named in the Will (known as the beneficiaries).
The Executor of a Will has to ensure they follow the correct legal processes to apply for Probate, divide up the deceased person’s belongings, money, property and other assets (their Estate) according to their Will, ensure any outstanding debts are paid. In addition, they may need to make sure that the funeral goes ahead as planned. All of these tasks involve time and effort.
The Executor of a Will can claim ‘reasonable expenses’ from the Estate to be divided up. There isn’t a strict legal definition of what counts as a reasonable expense, but these usually include things like Probate registry fees, or the costs of solicitors, Estate agents, or other professionals. They can also include funeral costs if the deceased did not have a pre-paid funeral plan in place.
It is up to the Executor to keep track of all these expenses and keep detailed accounts of any money they intend to claim. The beneficiaries of the Will are entitled to query or challenge these expenses, so it is always a good idea to keep track of this and be as transparent as possible.
Being the Executor of a Will is a huge responsibility, and you are potentially personally liable if things go wrong. Hiring an experienced Probate solicitor to take care of this process is almost always a good idea, especially when dealing with large or complicated Estates with more than one beneficiary.
Capital Life’s team of reliable and experienced Probate solicitors is on hand to help take the stress and pressure out of the Probate process. Contact them today to find out how they can help.