A simple way to help your executor

A little organisation now can make things much easier for someone you trust.

Being asked to act as someone's executor can feel meaningful. It also comes with a practical job to do.

An executor is the person you name in your will. They will be the person who takes care of the practical steps in your will after you're gone. That can include finding important documents, contacting banks and insurers, working out what you owned and owed, dealing with probate and tax, and making sure your wishes are carried out.

There can be a lot to keep track of. It becomes much easier when the right information is clear and easy to find.

First, they need to know what's there

Before your executor can get started, they need a clear picture of your important affairs.

Which banks do you use? Do you have pensions or investments? Insurance policies? Loans? Property? A solicitor or accountant? And where is the original copy of your will?

For most people, that information does not live in one place.

It may be spread across folders, emails, online accounts, letters and paperwork at home. Your executor may know some of it already, but probably not all of it.

Giving them a simple overview can save a lot of searching.

The paperwork is only part of it

Once your executor understands what you have, they can begin dealing with it.

They may need to contact organisations, arrange property valuations, deal with tax, apply for probate, and keep the people named in your will updated.

Probate is the legal process that gives an executor authority to deal with your estate, meaning the money, property and other things you leave behind.

That is a lot to manage at a difficult time.

Your executor does not need you to solve everything in advance. What helps most is giving them a clear place to start.

What would make things easier?

You do not need to hand over passwords. You do not need to give someone access to every account. And this does not replace a properly prepared will.

What helps is much simpler.

Give your executor a clear map of your important information.

They should be able to see what you have, where the details are kept, and who they may need to contact.

That could include:

• Your will and where the original is kept
• Your solicitor and other important advisers
• The banks and financial providers you use
• Your pensions and investments
• Your insurance policies
• Property and mortgage details
• Any significant debts
• Important documents and where to find them
• People who may have useful information

Everyone's list will look a little different. The important thing is that someone you trust can make sense of it.

One more reason to stay organised

Most of us keep records because they make everyday life easier.

They can also make things easier for the people we choose to look after our affairs.

A clear record of your important information means your executor has a useful starting point. They know what to look for, where to look, and who to speak to.

Their job may still take time. Finding the information should be the easy part.