Wills & Family
Who should I choose as executor if I don’t trust my family?
Not everyone has a relative they would trust to handle their estate. Here is how to think about other options, from friends to professional executors.
Why WillHarbour exists
Planning for the future, or dealing with the estate of someone who has died, can feel daunting. Many people are not sure what kind of help they need, what the words mean, or who to ask. Some put it off because the first step feels too big.
WillHarbour is here to make that first step smaller. You answer a few plain-English questions about your situation. We read your answers and, with your permission, share your enquiry with up to three firms that may be able to help, such as solicitors or will-writing companies. They contact you and explain their fees and terms, so you can compare them and decide whether to go ahead.
What we do
- We explain common topics in plain English through our Help Centre.
- We ask a short set of questions so we understand what you are looking for.
- With your permission, we introduce your enquiry to up to three suitable firms, such as solicitors, chartered legal executives, members of a recognised will-writing body or estate-planning firms. We then email you their names.
- We are open about how we are paid. The firms we work with pay us a fee for each introduction, and they must tell you about this before you instruct them.
What we don't do
- We are not a law firm and we are not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or CILEx Regulation.
- We do not give legal, tax or financial advice, and we cannot tell you what you should do in your circumstances.
- We do not write Wills, apply for probate or set up trusts ourselves.
- Submitting an enquiry does not create a solicitor–client relationship with us or with anyone else.
- We never sell your details to marketing lists, and we never share them with anyone other than the firms we name to you.
Where we work
At the moment, WillHarbour only handles enquiries about England and Wales. The law in Scotland and Northern Ireland is different. For example, in Scotland the executor applies for confirmation rather than probate, and Northern Ireland uses enduring powers of attorney rather than Lasting Powers of Attorney. We cannot reliably route those enquiries yet, so our list of useful official links includes guidance for both.
How we write our guides
We want our information to be clear, accurate and fair. These are the rules we follow:
- Based on official sources. Our guides are written from official guidance, such as GOV.UK, HM Revenue and Customs, the Office of the Public Guardian and legislation.gov.uk. We link to these sources so you can read the original wording.
- Plain English. We use short sentences and explain terms like "executor", "intestacy" and "attorney" when we first use them.
- Dated and reviewed. Each guide shows when it was last reviewed. Rules and figures change, especially around tax, so we review our content regularly and update it when official guidance changes.
- General, not personal. Our guides explain how things usually work. They are not advice about your situation. Where something depends on your circumstances, we say so.
- No pressure. We will not tell you that you must do something, and we will not rush you. This matters most for people who have recently lost someone.
If you spot something that looks wrong or out of date, please let us know. We will look into it and correct it if needed.
Doing it yourself is fine too
You do not always need a professional. Many people apply for probate themselves on GOV.UK, and you can make a Lasting Power of Attorney using the government's online service. Our guides explain these options. If you would like someone to help, or your situation is more complex, we can introduce you to up to three firms instead.
Get in touch
You can email us at hello@willharbour.co.uk or use our contact form. To find out more about the process, read how WillHarbour works, or go straight to choosing the support you need.
