Executor Mistakes & Risks
How executors accidentally create problems — and how to avoid them
 
If you are acting as an executor or administrator, most serious problems don’t come from doing things wrong.
 
They come from doing reasonable things at the wrong time, saying the wrong thing informally, or not realising when a decision quietly carries risk.
 
This guide exists to make those risks visible before they cause delay, dispute, or personal exposure.
 
What this guide gives you
This guide gives you awareness, judgement, and protection at the points where probate most often goes wrong.
 
It helps you:
 
spot high-risk decisions before you make them
understand where personal liability can arise — and where it usually doesn’t
avoid informal actions that are difficult or impossible to undo
slow down at the right moments, without freezing or overreacting
recognise when pressure, emotion, or urgency is distorting judgement
 
Many executor mistakes only become obvious weeks or months later, when money has moved or someone asks:
“Why did you do that?”
 
This guide is designed to stop you ever being in that position.
 
The outcome you’re buying
By using this guide, you can:
 
make decisions you feel comfortable standing behind
reduce the risk of disputes with beneficiaries or family members
avoid unnecessary professional clean-up costs later
protect yourself from problems caused by assumptions rather than bad behaviour
act with confidence when something feels risky, even if it looks simple
 
It replaces hindsight with foresight — and anxiety with clarity.
 
Who this guide is for
This guide is for you if:
 
you are acting as executor or administrator
probate feels manageable, but the consequences of mistakes feel serious
you want to understand risk before taking action
you prefer careful judgement over rushing and hoping
 
It is especially useful if you feel pressure — from time, family, or expectations — to “just get things done”.
 
Who this guide is not for
This guide is not suitable if:
 
the estate is already in dispute
probate is likely to be contested
you are seeking representation or case-specific legal advice
 
In those situations, professional advice is usually appropriate.
This guide helps you recognise when you are approaching that point.
 
What’s inside the guide
This guide is structured around the real points where executors get into difficulty, not abstract legal theory.
 
Chapter overview
Chapter 1 — The Hidden Risks of Being an Executor
What responsibility actually means in practice, and why “good intentions” do not always protect you.
 
Chapter 2 — Early Decisions That Create Problems Later
Common actions taken in the first few weeks that quietly lock executors into risk.
 
Chapter 3 — Property-Related Risks
Where property sales, valuations, access, and timing cause the most exposure.
 
Chapter 4 — Financial Decisions That Carry Personal Risk
When handling estate money becomes more than administrative.
 
Chapter 5 — Communication Mistakes That Trigger Disputes
How informal updates, silence, or wording can escalate tensions unnecessarily.
 
Chapter 6 — Myths About Executor Liability
What executors often worry about — and where liability actually arises.
 
Chapter 7 — Pressure, Urgency, and Poor Judgement
How stress and chasing distort decision-making, and how to slow things down safely.
 
Chapter 8 — When to Pause, Escalate, or Seek Help
 
Clear guidance on recognising when an estate is moving beyond straightforward DIY.
 
How this guide is best used
Many executors use this guide:
 
alongside Probate, Done Properly, to balance process with risk awareness
as a reference when something feels uncomfortable or unclear
to sense-check decisions before money moves or commitments are made
 
It is a protective layer, not a replacement for process.
 
Final note on responsibility
This guide provides general information and practical guidance.
It does not provide legal advice.
It helps you act carefully, reasonably, and defensibly —
which is what executors are judged on in practice.