Inheritance Law · Europe
Carry Out Your Duties as an Executor Without Personal Risk
Being named an executor means real legal duties — and personal liability if you get them wrong. We match you, free of charge, with a vetted lawyer who guides you through administering an estate correctly under the law of the relevant European country, from inventory to final distribution.
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Who this is for
Being an executor is an honour — and a legal responsibility most people underestimate
An executor is the person appointed, usually by a will, to administer the deceased’s estate: to locate and protect the assets, pay the debts and taxes, and distribute what remains to the beneficiaries. In some European systems the equivalent role is performed by an heir, an administrator or a notary under different rules, but the underlying duties are similar. It is a serious legal responsibility. Executors can be held personally liable for mistakes, such as distributing assets before debts are settled, failing to account properly, or mishandling a foreign property or account held in another country. The process can also take months or years and involve unfamiliar formalities, from probate or equivalent grants to inventories, valuations and tax filings. We match you with a lawyer who advises executors on carrying out their duties correctly, so you fulfil the role without avoidable risk.
Why executors struggle
Executors are asked to do a professional’s job.
Without a professional’s tools.
The duties are set by law and the liability is personal — yet most executors are grieving relatives with no legal background.
Personal liability for mistakes
If an executor distributes the estate before debts and taxes are settled, or handles assets carelessly, they can be personally liable to creditors or beneficiaries. The rules are strict and often not obvious to a lay person.
Unfamiliar formalities
Probate or equivalent grants, inventories, valuations and tax filings follow the law of the governing country — and its exact forms and deadlines. Missing a step can stall the estate or create liability that falls on the executor personally.
Cross-border complications
When the estate includes a foreign property, account or beneficiary, the executor must satisfy requirements in more than one country. Reconciling those systems is beyond what most executors can reasonably manage alone.
What you get
A lawyer who stands beside you through the whole administration
We only match you with lawyers who advise executors and administrators on estate administration in the relevant country.
Your duties clarified
Your lawyer explains exactly what your role requires in the governing country — what to do, in what order, and what you can lawfully delegate — before problems arise.
Liability managed
The order of settling debts, taxes and distributions is handled correctly, and your decisions are documented properly, so your personal exposure is kept to a minimum.
Formalities handled
Probate or equivalent grants, inventories, valuations and tax filings are prepared and submitted in the correct form and on time, so the administration is not stalled by procedural errors.
Cross-border support
Where the estate has a foreign element, your lawyer coordinates the requirements in each relevant country so you are not left navigating unfamiliar systems alone.
Coverage
Executor support lawyers across Europe
The duties of an executor or administrator are set by the law of the country governing the estate. We match executor-support cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Executors — common questions
What exactly does an executor do?
An executor administers the deceased’s estate: locating and protecting assets, settling debts and taxes, and distributing what remains to the beneficiaries according to the will or the law. The precise steps, and the formalities involved, are set by the law of the country that governs the estate.
Can I be held personally liable as an executor?
Yes, in principle. An executor who distributes assets before debts and taxes are settled, or who handles the estate carelessly, can be personally liable to creditors or beneficiaries. Acting on professional advice and following the correct order of administration substantially reduces this risk.
Can I refuse to act as an executor?
In most systems you can decline the role, provided you do so in the proper form and within any applicable rules, though the position may then pass to another person. If you are unsure whether to accept, seek advice early — before you take any steps that might be treated as accepting the role.
Do I need probate or an equivalent document?
In many countries an executor needs a formal grant or equivalent authority before dealing with banks, land registries and other institutions. The requirement, and the document itself, varies by country — a lawyer can confirm what is needed for the specific estate.
What if the estate includes assets abroad?
Foreign assets add complexity, because the executor may need to prove their authority and satisfy formalities in more than one country, and deal with foreign tax. A cross-border lawyer can coordinate these requirements so the administration proceeds correctly in each jurisdiction.
How long does administering an estate take?
It depends on the size and complexity of the estate, whether there is a foreign element, and the formalities required by the governing country — typically months, and sometimes longer for complex or disputed estates. A lawyer can give you a realistic timeline for your case.
Free case review
Administer the estate properly, and protect yourself while you do it
Tell us about the estate and we’ll connect you with a lawyer who advises executors and administrators in the relevant country every day — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.