What are the duties of the personal representatives?

The administrator can be held financially liable for any loss resulting from a breach of duty, even if a mistake is made in good faith.

Being named as Executor in a Will or being appointed on intestacy can involve complicated, difficult and time-consuming duties which often take up to a year to complete.

It is crucial to get everything right because the administrator is legally responsible for  everything they do or fail to do, in respect of the Estate. It can be a very daunting prospect because of the legal, tax and administrative responsibilities.

There are many things to be done and it can take hours and hours of work and may take up to 12 months or more to finalise. There is a lot of responsibility when money is involved to ensure that everything is done correctly and many people tell us it is a thankless job.

If you find yourself in this situation and you are feeling overwhelmed, please don't worry because we are here to help you.

We have an experienced team of probate solicitors and experienced support staff who are on hand to offer free advice and guidance on Executor duties and responsibilities.

Personal representative responsibilities explained

Personal Representatives can be held personally financially liable for any loss resulting from a breach of their duty, even if the mistake was made in good faith; such as

• Failure to pay the debts and liabilities of the deceased
• Failure to pay correct Inheritance Tax, Income Tax & Capital Gains Tax due
• Failure to identify the potential beneficiaries
• Failure to distribute funds correctly

The personal liability can last for up to 12 years in certain circumstances.