Choosing an executor

Last reviewed 18 August 2026

To name an executor is to choose the person who will settle your affairs when you cannot speak for yourself — a choice that rewards good sense over sentiment.

Who can act, and how many

An executor must be 18 or over; beyond that, almost anyone may serve — a spouse, an adult child, a trusted friend, or a professional such as a solicitor. You can appoint up to four to act together, and it is wise to name at least a second in case the first cannot or will not act. A beneficiary can be an executor, which is common and sensible.

What to look for

Choose someone organised, trustworthy, and likely to outlive you — the role can involve months of careful work, tax, and dealing with grieving relatives. For a complex estate, or where family friction is likely, a professional executor removes the burden, though they charge for it. Ask the person first: no one should learn they are an executor only after the death.

Sources. GOV.UK, Making a will (appointing executors); law on number of executors and capacity to act.