The role of Executor and Administrator


The Role of the Executor

Taking on the role of Executor or Administrator involves first and foremost acting in a fiduciary capacity. This means honouring the wishes of the deceased, acting honestly , in good faith according to the law of the land and in the best interests of the beneficiaries. If you follow these principles, you are unlikely to fail.

 

Communicating with the beneficiaries of the will or the family members is vitally important. Most will probably wish to know how much they are getting and when will they get it! As the process of winding up an estate can involve long delays, especially if you are undertaking the task yourself, you will need to keep everyone up to date on progress as you proceed. They will ask a lot of questions. Why should they have to wait so long? Who pays the funeral bill? Why should Johnny be allowed to continue to live in the house? Who gets the car? Can I have that ring she always wanted me to get? Mary has taken stuff from the house, what are you doing about that? Can I get an advance now?

 

 What does the Executor or Administrator do in a nutshell?

  • Ensure the funeral arrangements are put in place.
  • Locate, read and understand the will;
  • Identify the beneficiaries;
  • Make an inventory of all assets;
  • Decide if probate is necessary and commence the procedure;
  • Notify the Banks, credit Card company, utility company, insurance company and all relevant persons;
  • Notify the beneficiaries of the will or the next of kin if there is no will;
  • Secure and protect the assets while they are under your control;
  • Obtain the Grant of Probate or Administration from the Probate Office;
  • Collect all funds belonging to the deceased or owed to the estate;
  • Pay off all debts funeral testamentary expenses;
  • Sell any assets such as property or shares if necessary;
  • File tax returns;
  • Consult with the beneficiaries for their views on any issues that may arise that affect them;
  • Prepare the final Executor’s Accounts;
  • Distribute the estate.

 

What if there is no Will?

Many people die without having made a Will. This is called an intestate estate. It is still necessary to make an  application to the Probate office for permission to take control of the assets of the deceased. The document that will issue is called a ‘Grant of Administration Intestate’. The Succession Act 1965 sets out the rules about who can apply for the Grant of Administration and also directs who is entitled to a share in the estate where there is no will. If the deceased died intestate then you will be required by the Probate Office to enter into a Bond which is a personal commitment to administer the estate in accordance with the law.

 

 

What are my legal obligations?

Once your appointment as an Executor or Administrator has been approved by the Probate Office and the Grant is issued, you then become responsible for property and money that belongs to the beneficiaries in the will or the next of kin. There is nobody there to supervise your activities. The Law requires you to act honestly and in good faith. There are rules and regulations for you to follow before you hand over the assets to those entitled.

 

An executor or administrator has a fiduciary duty which requires him or her to act in the best interests of  the beneficiaries or next of kin. This means that you cannot act in your own best interests and you must apply the highest ethical standards to your task.

 

The following are examples of what you may or may not:

  • You are not entitled to payment for your services unless the Will expressly provides for this.
  • You may not make a profit from your association with the estate of the deceased. You may however recover your expenses reasonably incurred.
  • If you wish to purchase an asset from the estate you must proceed with great caution and be seen to follow an open and fair competitive tender process with the consent of the beneficiaries who will inherit the proceeds of that sale.
  • You must act as a prudent business person would act in the conduct of his own affairs.
  • You must not invest in hazardous assets such as volatile shares or fluctuating markets.
  • You must take into consideration the interests of all beneficiaries and treat them all equally.
  • You are obliged to provide detailed information to residuary beneficiaries in relation to the management of the estate and the accounts. A residuary beneficiary is the person or persons who take what is left over after all the debts are paid and the specific legacies are paid.
  • You must make every reasonable effort to get the estate wound up within a year of the date of death.
  • You must account to the beneficiaries for interest on their entitlement after a year has passed.
  • You must keep careful records of everything you do.
  • If you have to delegate work to professionals or experts you must choose them with care.
  • You must prepare an Estate Account at the end in which a full picture of all financial transactions is clearly set out.

 

Should you fail to honour your duties and follow the rules you are vulnerable to being sued by the beneficiaries or even to being removed by a court from your position as executor or administrator. You may also be obliged to compensate the estate for any losses and to return property or assets.

 

At O’Shea Legal we have over thirty years experience helping clients through this difficult process. With a Diploma in Trusts and Estate Management our firm principal has the experience and qualifications to handle any complications and we are focused on getting the job done quickly in order to remove as much stress and anxiety.

Testimonials

Request a Quote

So why not get a no obligation fixed fee quote now. You could save a lot of money. If you have questions, why not call or email us now without obligation and we will be happy to answer your queries without charge.

Disclaimer

No solicitor/client relationship or duty of care or liability of any nature shall exist or be deemed to exist between O'Shea Legal and you until you have received confirmation in writing from us in which we confirm our appointment as your Solicitors.

*In contentious business a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.

Enquiry form



Captcha Code

Click the image to see another captcha.
No spam policy
 
Services
 

Our testimonials

All original testimonials on view at reception

  • To Eoin, Thanks for everything: for a smooth, efficient and painless process! All the best.
    B, Terenure, Dublin.
  • I want to thank you so much for all your help on the case. You’ve been brilliant. I wish I had known you before I made all the mistakes. You are a wonderful solicitor…..
    C.C. Dublin
  • Many thanks for your Kindness.
    PH Wexford
  • I have engaged Eoin O’Shea as my solicitor on several occasions over the years and I am more than happy with his services. I wish Eoin continued success in his legal practice.
    M. Lyons, Dublin.
  • Eoin, you're more than welcome for the gift. Apart from all the legal matters you dealt with, I really appreciated your patience and understanding.
    SO'S. Dublin.
  • Many thanks for all your help over the past three years with grateful appreciation.
    MD Dublin
  • Just a note to say thank you so much for your kindness and understanding. You made such a difference at a very difficult time in life. Heartfelt thanks to you Eoin.
    LB, Dublin
  • As we celebrate this Holy Season, I wish to express my deep gratitude to you and all who help us keep this lifeline for the homeless in operation.
    Bro. Kevin Crowley

Our Legal Publications

Shopping cart under construction.


The Executors Guide - 'At last a step by step guide, composed in plain english, for the executor or administrator who chooses not to employ a solicitor. This book contains invaluable advice and tips on how to get the difficult task of winding up an estate of a deceased person done as quickly as possible avoiding the traps for the unwary. It covers all the steps from the grave to the final distribution of the estate. It can save the estate thousands of euro in legal fees'

News & Articles


Property purchase - 6 mistakes to avoid

October 12, 2012
The following advice from O’Shea Legal is for the benefit of Clients who have agreed or are about to agree to purchase a propert…

Choosing the right solicitor for you

October 12, 2012
Choosing a Solicitor to represent you is not an easy task and it may sometimes feel like you are betting on a horse. However if …
Get this feed  rss

‘Thank you for doing the probate work on my father’s estate at a fixed cost. I had been quoted an exorbitant percentage by another firm…..’

‘Your friendly approach and reassuring phone calls helped me through the stressful task of sorting out my uncle’s affairs…..’

BO’B, Terenure,Dublin.

‘…a small gift in appreciation for your attention to detail in getting my sisters estate settled up quickly and keeping the other relatives at bay…’.

J.G. Baltimore, Cork.

‘I had no idea what was involved in being an executor. Thanks for all the help and advice in keeping me on the right path and getting the job done quickly……’

C.C. Churchtown, Dublin.

‘Well done on heading off the threatened probate court case which would have cost the estate thousands in wasted legal fees……’

P.D. Salthill,Galway.