{"id":2315,"date":"2016-10-11T15:00:10","date_gmt":"2016-10-11T08:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.infinitysolutions.com\/blog\/brexit-fuelled-pensions-shortfall-do-you-need-help-copy\/"},"modified":"2019-09-10T14:40:58","modified_gmt":"2019-09-10T06:40:58","slug":"making-life-easier-executor-will","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.infinitysolutions.com\/blog\/will-writing-estate-planning\/making-life-easier-executor-will\/","title":{"rendered":"Making life easier for the executor of your will"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The executor of your will – Despite the promises made by David Cameron to raise the inheritance tax threshold to \u00a31mn, it remains stuck at \u00a3325,000. The value of any estate over and above that is taxed heavily at 40%, although changes in the 2015 budget will be start to be implemented next year with a \u2018family home allowance\u2019 element, enabling people to pass more on to their children and grandchildren free of IHT.<\/p>\n

A lower threshold means that increasing numbers of people are having to apply for a grant of probate. This can be a long and complex process and that\u2019s one reason you should choose your executors wisely (more on that here<\/a>). What comes as a surprise to many executors are the costs involved in winding up an estate.<\/p>\n

In order to work out exactly how much IHT needs to be paid any item of worth in an estate needs to be valued which often means paying the person who carries out that job, stockbrokers may charge for portfolio valuations and then there are solicitors and accountants all wanting their pound of flesh. Once probate is granted, unpaid bills can be settled. If these are large it could mean selling off assets in order to do so \u2013 this could be a home, car, stocks or any other item of value.<\/p>\n

A client recently told me of their experience in winding up the estate of a friend. With \u00a3300,000 of cash in the estate to play with and an IHT bill of \u00a3200,000, they figured they would easily have enough left over to cover everything and plenty leftover to distribute to the beneficiaries. This turned out not to be the case.<\/p>\n

The complexity of the estate brought the solicitor\u2019s fees alone in at over \u00a330,000. As the<\/p>\n

deceased owned properties in the UK and abroad, lawyers and valuers had to be appointed in both countries and there were travel costs for my client to travel to sort out affairs in the second home. Outstanding income tax and capital gains tax had to be paid and there was also the cost of the funeral to cover.<\/p>\n

Often executors can be under pressure to get inheritance tax paid before late payment fees are charged at 3%. In this case, the cash part of the estate was sufficient to cover the IHT bill. Had it not been, my client could have opted for staged payments over 10 years but, frankly, who still wants to be dealing with a friend\u2019s estate a decade after they have passed away?<\/p>\n

All these potential complications are a heavy burden to place on your loved ones, who will be grieving for your loss at the same time. That\u2019s a good reason to get your affairs in order even if you don\u2019t plan on departing from this earth any time soon. Here are some ways you can make your executor\u2019s job easier:<\/p>\n