Problem with finding more than one executor for a will

41 Posts

My Husband and I are in discussion about preparing mirror wills as we do want the same thing.
We have no children together (and won't be having any) and he is estranged since several years now from his adult daughter by a previous marriage.
We would name each other as executor but I know just naming one is not a good idea, except we have nobody else we feel completely happy about naming at this time.
I have a brother but whilst I am happy to name him, my Husband isn't for himself.
My Husband does not want to name any of his brothers/sisters as he does not want them to know that his estranged daughter isn't going to inherit anything.
We can't think of any shared friends etc. that we trust enough.
Any ideas what we could do? or shall we just name each other, albeit a risky option?
What would happen if we (a) died together, or (b) died within a short time of each other, and therefore there would be no executor alive?
We have no children together (and won't be having any) and he is estranged since several years now from his adult daughter by a previous marriage.
We would name each other as executor but I know just naming one is not a good idea, except we have nobody else we feel completely happy about naming at this time.
I have a brother but whilst I am happy to name him, my Husband isn't for himself.
My Husband does not want to name any of his brothers/sisters as he does not want them to know that his estranged daughter isn't going to inherit anything.
We can't think of any shared friends etc. that we trust enough.
Any ideas what we could do? or shall we just name each other, albeit a risky option?
What would happen if we (a) died together, or (b) died within a short time of each other, and therefore there would be no executor alive?
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re your husband's siblings - they don't need to know what is in the will until they have to act upon it - so if he died first, you deal with it and they wouldn't be involved in any issues with the daughter
If the will has to go to probate, regardless of who the executor is, it become a public document, so the contents of it would become known, if anyone wanted to look.
Is it because you don't want them to know now, what's in the will, or you don't want them to know ever?
Yes, I know wills become public documents after probate but I guess he might be trying to avoid his family going against his wishes that his estranged daughter isn't inheriting anything.
Best to arrange to put the whole thing in the hands of solicitors, let them argue as to how large their fees should be!
It is possible for some charities to act as executor - though they would probably just appoint a solicitor which is an option for you anyway
Lewis Carroll