Glossary · UK
What is Executor's Year?
The 12-month period from the date of death within which executors are generally expected to gather, settle and distribute a deceased person's estate.
Full Definition
The executor's year is a common-law principle giving the personal representatives of an estate (executors named in a will, or administrators where there is no will) a reasonable period - usually twelve months from the date of death - to collect in the assets, pay debts and taxes, and distribute the estate to beneficiaries. Beneficiaries cannot ordinarily compel distribution before this year has elapsed, even where a legacy is payable. It is a guideline rather than a strict deadline: complex estates involving property sales, business interests, disputed claims or unresolved Inheritance Tax can legitimately take longer. However, executors who delay unreasonably beyond the year may face claims for interest on legacies or, in serious cases, removal. The principle protects executors from premature pressure while still imposing a duty to act diligently. It matters because it sets beneficiary expectations and frames when interest on unpaid legacies may begin to run.