Knowledge Base

Who should be appointed as an executor?

by | | Help: Executors, Knowledge Base, My Wishes |

Being an executor is an important and sometimes demanding responsibility, so it is vital you choose yours with care. It is often a good idea to talk to anyone you’re thinking of appointing before you write your will to make sure they have a fair understanding of what will be expected of them and they are happy to take on this role. If they are not willing, they will have the right to refuse the responsibility when the time comes, so it makes sense to get their permission in advance. Who can be

What is an 'executor'?

by | | Help: Executors, Knowledge Base, Glossary |

One of the most important tasks involved in writing your will is to appoint executors. These are the people who will manage and distribute your estate after you’ve died, using the instructions you make in your will.What does an executor do? Typical responsibilities can include: * Collecting and listing all of the assets in the estate – bank accounts, property, possessions etc. * Valuing the estate. * Applying for a grant of probate. * Making sure all debts, bills, taxes (including inheri

What is a 'guardian'?

by | | Help: Guardians, Knowledge Base, Glossary |

If you have children under the age of 18 you will probably want to nominate a guardian for them in case you and the child’s other parent were to die. You can only appoint a guardian for your children if you have parental responsibility for them. You can read more about who has parental responsibility and what will happen if there is no will in our ‘What happens to your children if you die without a will’ article. A guardian’s role and responsibilities The role of a guardian is essentially mu

Who should be appointed as a Guardian?

by | | Help: Guardians, Knowledge Base, My Wishes |

Out of all the decisions you’ll need to make whilst writing your will, choosing who will look after your children if you and their other parent were to die, is possibly one of the hardest decisions you will have to make.  Whilst it might be an upsetting prospect, it’s an important decision and one you’ll most certainly want to get right. So, who should you choose? Choosing the right guardians Most people choose a brother, sister or close friend to be guardians, but does being a good friend or y

Who can witness my will?

by | | Knowledge Base, What Happens Next |

Your will must be witnessed for it to be valid. So one of the most important steps in completing your will is to have it witnessed correctly. For a full description of the witnessing procedure see how to make sure your will is legal [https://www.gov.uk/make-will/make-sure-your-will-is-legal]. Your witnesses There are no particular rules around who can (and can’t) witness your will, other than they must be must be capable of understanding what they are doing. However, if a beneficiary of the w