If you have been appointed as an executor, it can seem straightforward to administer an estate. However,  it can in fact be very complex and time consuming. Executors often underestimate the amount of time and paperwork involved and how onerous administering an estate can be. They are often unaware that they may be held personally responsible if they make a mistake. If you appoint a solicitor, they will ensure that the estate is properly administered so as to avoid the pitfalls which executors can fall into. Crucially, your solicitor will be able to advise about inheritance tax and how this can be minimised, for example by means of a Deed of Variation. Your solicitor will also be able to check that the Will is valid and explain the terms. Terminology in Wills is not always clear and the legal effect may not always be as it seems at first glance. A non-lawyer executor may not be aware of when a statutory provision will apply to a Will so as to alter the distribution from what appears on the face of a Will. If a Will does not name executors or they don’t want to act, we can advise you on who should apply for a grant.