Executor Task Checklist

Who this is for

What to do, stage by stage. The practical jobs that follow a death are listed in the order they usually come up, from the first days to closing the estate, with room to note who did each one and when.

Executors and administrators, and the family members who share the work with them, whether it is the first estate they have dealt with or not.

What this helps you track

• The jobs that need doing in the first days
• The papers to gather and the organisations to tell
• Listing what the person owned and owed
• Dealing with the home and belongings
• Who did each task and on what date

How to use it

1. Write the name of the person who has died, the executors and the date you started at the top.
2. Work through the stages in order, writing who did each task and the date it was done.
3. Use the notes column for reference numbers, names of people spoken to and anything still waiting on a reply.
4. Cross out tasks that do not apply and add your own on the blank lines or in the browser version.
5. Check the rules and processes where you are for registering a death, probate or its equivalent, and tax; this list does not set them out.
6. Keep the sheet with the estate papers so any executor can see what has been done; the browser version saves in your own browser.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

Does this list tell me what the law requires?

No. It is a practical to-do list, not legal guidance. The steps for registering a death, obtaining probate or its equivalent and settling tax differ between countries, so check the rules where you are or ask a solicitor.

What order should the stages be done in?

Roughly the order printed, but they overlap. Some organisations will not act until you have formal documents, so gathering paperwork and telling organisations often run side by side for weeks.

Can several people share the work?

Yes, and the done by column is there for that. Writing a name and a date against each task stops two people ringing the same bank and makes it clear what is still outstanding.

Where do I record the details of each organisation?

Use the organisations to notify tracker for the full list with references and replies, and the assets and liabilities schedule for values. This checklist just marks each stage as done.