Your Complete Death Admin Checklist: Including Some Commonly Asked Questions

At Life Ledger, we understand how difficult this period can be. Grief affects everyone differently and can last for a very long time. But some administrative steps need to be taken, often quite quickly. We are going to try to lay out a clear checklist that you can follow to make the process as simple and stress-free as possible. 

One of the most commonly asked questions we hear is: What is an ‘executor account’ and when is it needed?

In simple terms, an executor account is a bank account opened by the executor of a will to manage the deceased person’s estate. It allows estate money to be collected, bills to be paid, and funds to be distributed. 

You will likely be notifying banks, government departments, insurers, and utilities when someone dies. If you are an executor, understanding the meaning of an executor account and when to open one is an important part of the process. 

This guide is going to focus on the practical elements so that you can work through essential steps with clarity and confidence. 

Register the Death & Gather Key Documents

Before getting in touch with any companies, you need to register the death. You will be contacted by the medical examiner’s office to explain the cause of death and confirm you can register the death. 

You need to register the death within 5 days, in England and Wales, of being contacted. You will receive a death certificate that most companies will require when making changes or cancelling accounts. 

Previously, you needed to purchase multiple death certificates for organisations such as banks, pension providers, insurers, and so on. But it is becoming common for digital copies to be accepted in their place. 

With Life Ledger, we aim to make everything simple and accessible. Some providers have begun to accept photographs of death certificates through our platform, saving you even more time and energy. 

Death Registration Checklist

• Get a medical cause of death certificate – A senior doctor will send this to you 
• Book an appointment at the local register office – You will need to visit a register office. 
• Bring required personal details – This is typically full name, date of birth, address, etc.
• Register the death within the legal timeframe – Usually 5 days in England and Wales. 
• Receive the burial or cremation certificate (also called a Green Form) – You will need this to arrange a funeral 
• Locate documents:

• The will
• Details of bank and savings accounts. 
• Utility bills
• Insurance documents
• Property ownership documents
• Pension paperwork

Having these documents to hand will make the process of contacting organisations far smoother and help to avoid delays where possible. 

If you are the executor of the will, at this stage, you will begin to understand your legal responsibilities, including managing estate funds properly, which is where an executor account may become needed. 

Keeping track of all these moving parts can be overwhelming. At Life Ledger, we put it all in one place and notify companies on your behalf. Get started and register now. 

Executor Account Meaning

It is a temporary bank account used to manage the money of someone who has died. It is opened in the name of the estate, not your personal name, and is used only for estate-related transactions. 

As an executor, you are responsible for:

• Finding all the financial documents belonging to the person 
• Paying debts, including: funeral costs, solicitor fees, utilities, and so on.
• Paying inheritance tax
• Managing residential property 
• Collecting money from the deceased’s accounts. 
• Distributing inheritance 

Executors have a fiduciary duty, meaning they must act in the best interests of the beneficiaries and keep accurate records. Any executor account should provide a clear financial trail, allowing for reporting if the beneficiaries request a breakdown of how funds were handled. 

When Do I Need to Open an Executor Account?

Not every estate requires one, but you would usually need an executor account if: 

• You expect to collect and manage funds before probate is granted. Probate is the process of proving that a will is valid.
• There are multiple bank accounts to close. Getting everything in one place. If there are multiple accounts that have assets, you might want to put them in one place. 
• Property is being sold
• Record Keeping
• Ongoing bills or Expenses 

Once a bank is notified of a death, individual accounts are typically frozen. Banks will often release funds for funeral expenses, but for other expenses, probate must be granted. 

After probate is granted, funds from closed accounts can be transferred to the executor’s account. From then on, all estate payments can be managed in one place. 

Do All Wills Need Probate?

The short answer is ‘no’. Probate is the legal process that gives an executor authority to deal with the deceased person’s estate. Whether it is needed depends on the size and structure of the estate, not if a will exists. 

You will usually need probate if: 

• If the deceased owned a property or significant assets in their sole name.
• Often banks, building societies, or other financial institutions will want to see a grant of probate if the estate is worth more than a certain amount. Each institution has its own threshold. 

You do not need to go through probate if:

• The estate is worth less than £5,000, or 
• If their property or assets are jointly owned. 
• You may also be able to avoid probate if you were to put the asset into a trust, removing it from the estate. 

Even if probate is not required, executors are still responsible for settling debts and distributing assets according to the will. If probate is required, banks will typically freeze sole accounts until probate is granted. Once granted, funds can then be transferred into the executor account for management.

Understanding executor accounts and probate is just one part of managing an estate, but it is an important one. It will ensure estate funds are handled properly, bills are paid, and beneficiaries receive what the deceased intended. 

We Can Do the Heavy Lifting for You

Life Ledger was born from experience. If you are going through the process, we feel for you. But you don’t have to do it all alone. 

Life Ledger is a platform where you can notify over 1,000 companies across the UK of a death. It is one place to upload and send documents. 

Let us help you in your time of need. Register with us today.