A professional executor is a paid specialist, such as a solicitor, a bank, a trust corporation or an estate planning firm, named in a will to administer the estate after death. They do the same job as a family executor, dealing with probate, tax and distribution, but charge a fee to the estate.
Most guides here are written by firms that want the appointment, so they skip the cost and the exit. This page covers both, as part of your wider estate planning. Figures are current as at August 2026 and subject to change.
What is a professional executor?
A professional executor is a specialist appointed in a will to deal with probate and estate administration for a fee, rather than a relative acting for free. An executor is the person or organisation legally responsible for carrying out a will (gov.uk, as at August 2026). A will can name a professional to act alone, or alongside a family member as a co-executor.
What does a professional executor do?
A professional executor takes legal responsibility for the whole administration, from valuing the estate through to paying any tax and distributing what is left to the beneficiaries. They act as a fiduciary, so they must put the estate first, keep proper accounts, and carry out the will accurately. The main tasks usually fall into four stages.
- Value the estate. Identify and value everything the person owned, from property to accounts and investments, and total the debts.
- Deal with inheritance tax. Work out any inheritance tax, charged at 40% above the available thresholds such as the £325,000 nil-rate band, and report it to HMRC (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
- Apply for probate. Apply to HM Courts & Tribunals Service for the grant of probate that gives authority to act.
- Collect and distribute. Gather the assets, pay debts and expenses, keep estate accounts, and pay what is left to the beneficiaries.
Who can act as a professional executor?
Anyone aged 18 or over can be named an executor, so professional refers to being paid to do the job as a business, not to a single qualification. The role is usually filled by a solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, a bank or trust corporation running an executor service, or a specialist estate planning firm, some regulated by bodies such as STEP.
How much does a professional executor charge?
A professional executor is paid from the estate before beneficiaries receive their share, so the fee reduces what the family inherits. Charges are usually set in one of three ways, and the difference can run to thousands of pounds on the same estate.
| Fee model | Typical basis | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage of the estate | Often 1% to 5% plus VAT for solicitors; banks and trust corporations can charge more | A large but simple estate can produce a very high bill, because value drives the fee |
| Hourly rate | Charged per hour worked, sometimes alongside a smaller percentage | Hard to predict; ask for an estimate and a cap |
| Fixed fee | A single quoted price agreed before work begins | Confirm what is included and how extras are charged |
Percentage guidance: the Law Society estimate of 1% to 5% plus VAT for a solicitor acting as executor, as at August 2026, subject to change. Bank and trust corporation charges vary; ask for the tariff in writing.
The charge that catches families out is a percentage on a valuable but simple estate: a 4% fee on a £600,000 estate is £24,000 plus VAT, even where the work is routine. Comparing a fixed quote first can save a large sum, and our pricing page explains how we set fees.
Professional executor or a family member?
Choosing between a professional and a trusted relative is a trade-off between cost and convenience. A family executor acts for free but carries personal liability and a heavy administrative load; a professional removes that burden for a fee. The table below sets out the main differences.
| Consideration | Professional executor | Family member or friend |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Charges a fee from the estate | Usually acts without charge |
| Expertise | Handles probate and tax routinely | May be learning the process at a hard time |
| Impartiality | Neutral where beneficiaries disagree | Can be caught in family tension |
| Continuity | A firm carries on if an individual leaves | May fall ill, move away or die first |
| Personal knowledge | Limited feel for family history | Knows the family and the person's wishes |
A professional often suits a high-value or disputed estate, a business, cross-border assets, or a case with no suitable relative to ask. For a modest, harmonious estate, a capable family executor who can take advice is often enough, and many people combine the two.
How do you appoint or remove a professional executor?
You appoint a professional executor by naming them in your will, and you remove one either before death by rewriting the will or, after death, through renunciation or a court application. Appointment is straightforward; removing a professional after death can be difficult, so choose carefully while you still have the mental capacity to make a new will.
Appointment is done through your will, as covered in our guide to writing a will:
- Name the firm or role in your will. Have a professionally drafted will appoint the executor you want, alone or alongside a family member.
- Check the charging clause. Make sure the will contains the clause that lets a professional bill the estate.
- Tell your family where the will is kept. Those who deal with your estate need to find it and know who is named.
Removing a professional executor after death is harder, which is why the appointment deserves care:
- Ask them to step aside. Before they start work, a named executor can renounce by signing form PA15 and filing it with the probate registry (gov.uk form PA15, as at August 2026).
- Understand the limit. Once an executor has started to deal with the estate, they generally cannot simply renounce, and are not obliged to step down because beneficiaries prefer someone else.
- Apply to court as a last resort. If a professional executor refuses to stand down, beneficiaries can apply to the High Court to remove them under section 50 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985, which can be slow and costly.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a professional executor charge?
Fees are usually a percentage of the estate, an hourly rate, or a fixed quote. The Law Society estimates a solicitor commonly charges 1% to 5% of the estate value plus VAT, and banks and trust corporations can charge more. Because a percentage tracks value rather than work, compare a fixed quote first. Figures as at August 2026, subject to change.
Can you remove a professional executor?
Sometimes. Before they start work, a professional executor can renounce by filing form PA15 with the probate registry, though they are not obliged to. Once they have begun administering the estate, removal usually needs a High Court application under section 50 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985.