A helpful insurance and risk management guide for professionals and private individuals acting as Executors or Administrators. You will learn about:
This guide to executors insurance will help you understand your risks and the insurance products available to protect you, other executors, personal representatives and beneficiaries.
You will learn what insurance policies to:
Review and arrange immediately
Consider when you have received the grant of probate; and
Consider when you are ready to distribute the estate.
You can click on any of the items in 'Contents' to jump to the section that interests you. Each section will also link to further information on each product.
We have a consolidated version of the guide that you can refer back to, visit our Executor Checklist page.
If you have further questions on executor insurance, start a chat or contact us.
There isn't a single insurance policy called Executor Insurance. Executor insurance is a term used to describe the various insurance policies you can buy to protect the property in the estate and the executor's potential liabilities when distributing the estate.
This page will explain where your liabilities can come from and the various insurance policies you can buy to protect yourself and the beneficiaries.
This guide is equally suitable for people acting as either:
An Executor is a person named in a will to carry out the deceased's wishes.
An administrator is appointed by the court to administer an estate. This happens when there is no will or the executor named in the will is unable or unwilling to serve the estate. An administrator is sometimes referred to as a personal representative.
From this point on, we will use the word ‘Executor’ to describe these functions.
You need to know that your role of executor continues for life:
If you fail to fulfil your obligations to disburse the estate in line with the wishes of the deceased, you can be personally liable.
If you do not adequately insure the deceased's assets or protect the beneficiaries from future financial loss, you could become personally liable for these losses.
So you must take the time to review the various types of executors insurance available to protect you, any other personal representatives and the beneficiaries.
The potential liabilities you face include:
Liability for mistakes.
Executors can be held liable for any mistakes in carrying out their duties. This could include:
Incorrectly calculating the value of the estate, including assets, investment, and property.
Paying incorrect taxes to the HMRC.
Failing to pay any outstanding debts and final bills.
Failing to distribute the estate correctly to the beneficiaries.
Failing to insure any property correctly
Liability for inheritance tax.
Getting this right is crucial. If you underpay, you may be liable to pay the difference to the HMRC. You are also personally liable if you overpay or incur penalties for late payment. This usually entails reimbursing any beneficiaries who are out of pocket as a result.
Liability for claims against the estate.
If someone claims against the estate, in the absence of insurance, the executor may be personally liable for:
defending the claim and paying the legal fees
paying any award
paying any out-of-pocket expenses
This is why you need to exercise your role with care. Your actions could have legal and financial consequences for you and others, including:
Other executors or administrators involved in the estate;
The beneficiaries
Equally, the actions of other executors could also expose you.
You could appoint a legal professional to help guide you. They can take on the responsibility of ensuring some of this is done correctly. Such as correctly distributing the estate and paying any inheritance tax.
It is common for lay executors to work with a professional to administer the estate. If this is the case, you still need to remain cautious. This is because each executor is jointly responsible for mistakes made by another.
This is why arranging suitable executor insurance can be a sensible move. It will not only protect the executors but also the beneficiaries. The last thing any executor wants is for beneficiaries to pay back some or all of their inheritance.
Executors should consider the following insurance types:
Unoccupied Probate Property Insurance. Property is usually unoccupied during probate. Insuristic has developed a specialist insurance product for this scenario.
Insurance for property occupied during probate. Property in probate is sometimes occupied by people living there with the permission of the executors. This is becoming more common, and finding an insurance provider to cover it can be challenging. Insuristic has developed a home insurance product where property can be insured in the estate's name.
Land Insurance - If the deceased owned plots of land that aren't contained in their home deeds, this should be considered. A landowner has a duty of care to protect visitors (there legally or otherwise) from injury. Land Insurance can protect the estate's liability to third parties who have been injured or suffered property damage on the land.
Section 27 Indemnity Insurance. You might have already placed a section 27 notice. A Section 27 notice is a legal document that is placed in The Gazette and local papers to inform creditors and beneficiaries of the death of an individual and the intention to distribute the estate. It is required under Section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925 and helps protect the estate's executors from claims that may be made against them by creditors or beneficiaries who were not aware of the death. If you would like to find out more about Section 27 notices, you can visit the Gazettes web page.
However, a Section 27 Notice does not protect the beneficiaries from creditors' claims. A Section 27 Insurance policy protects both executors and beneficiaries from creditors' claims.
Early distribution insurance. Provides cover if the estate is distributed during the statutory 6-month period. It protects against claims made by unknown dependants who feel that the estate has unfairly excluded them. This can result in a claim, which, without insurance, can impose liabilities on the executors and beneficiaries.
Missing Beneficiary Insurance. Covers claims from beneficiaries who were unknown or missing at the time of the estate's distribution.
Missing Will Insurance covers claims from people claiming another, newer will should have been used as the basis for distributing the estate.
These executor insurance covers provide peace of mind for all the executors, personal representatives, and beneficiaries. The cost can be reclaimed from the estate at the point it is distributed.
In addition, executors can buy a range of Asset Searches to help reduce their risks and streamline the estate administration process.
Below, you can find out more about these executor insurance covers and Asset Searches, as well as in what order they should be considered.
The average costs for executor insurance policies are as follows:
*All prices include insurance premium tax (currently 12%).
* Legal Indemnity Average pricing is provided by our underwriter, CLS Property Insight. Correct as of August 2024.
It is your responsibility as the executor or administrator to ensure the property and any land owned by the deceased is insured properly.
So as a first step you should review the insurance for any:
Unoccupied Property;
Occupied Property; and
Land Insurance
Read on to find out more.
Specialist insurance for unoccupied probate properties. It covers the property from the point it becomes empty following a death, ensuring the estate remains protected.
Executors are responsible for safeguarding estate property. If there is a major incident and the property isn't correctly insured, they could be personally liable for the financial loss — especially if beneficiaries seek reimbursement.
Tailored cover specifically for probate
Covers up to £750,000 rebuild value without requiring a valuation
Policy in estate name ("Executors of [Name]")
30-day inspection interval, not weekly
Online quote in 2 minutes, with pro-rata refund if cancelled early
Why not get a quote today, it only takes a couple of minutes.
It is the responsibility of the executors to arrange suitable probate property insurance. Failure to do so could make them legally liable for any losses.
Imagine a major incident like fire or flood at a property that hasn’t been correctly insured. Executors could face significant personal financial liability, especially if beneficiaries seek reimbursement for any uncovered losses.
Why you shouldn't rely on the deceased's existing insurance:
Existing cover is likely for an occupied property and may include exclusions or non-compliant conditions.
The policy might be underinsured or subject to strict inspection and maintenance clauses.
Learn more in our blog: Why It's Risky To Extend Home Insurance In Probate
Key risks with existing insurance:
The property must be insured in the name of the estate. Use “The Executors of [Name]” (if there's a Will) or “The Administrators of [Name]” (if intestate).
Most insurers restrict or exclude cover for unoccupied properties after 30–60 days.
Expect policy conditions like restricted cover, heightened security requirements, and frequent inspections (7 or 14 days).
If policy terms aren't followed precisely by all executors, the claim could be invalidated. For instance, if the property was drained but an executor unknowingly refills the system and causes an escape of water, all executors may be liable for the damage.
Underinsurance occurs when a property is insured for less than its rebuild cost, leading to reduced or denied claims.
Executors may be personally liable if beneficiaries lose money due to a claim shortfall. For example, if a property has a rebuild cost of £500,000 but is insured for £400,000, the payout may be reduced by 20%, resulting in a £100,000 gap.
If you don't know the rebuild value we can quote on the number of bedrooms (4 and below)
Rebuild sum insured defaults to £750,000, provided this is sufficient to rebuild, you have removed this risk.
For larger properties, expert support via SJL Insurance
No need to drain systems (claims capped instead)
Only 30-day inspections with simple mobile photo evidence (one picture of the outside and one of any room inside) of each inspection.
Insuristic offers clear, compliant cover specifically for probate, with policies for unoccupied houses, flats, or maisonettes.
Insuristic makes this easy — why not get a quote today?
Specialist insurance for probate properties that are occupied during estate administration. This could include relatives, dependents, or friends living there with the executor’s permission.
Standard home or landlord policies are unlikely to cover these situations:
Occupants often lack a formal tenancy agreement.
They don’t have insurable interest in the property.
Executors remain responsible for the property and any liability from occupants' actions.
Using inappropriate cover can invalidate claims and leave executors financially exposed.
Purpose-built cover for probate property with occupants
Insures in the name of the estate
Accommodates a range of occupancy scenarios (with permission)
Supports executors in navigating non-standard risks
Request a quote today.
If the deceased owned land, such as a private road, development sites, grazing land, moorland etc., there is a liability exposure for the executors.
If someone accidentally injures themselves or damages their property on the land, they could claim damages against the estate.
The claimant could be on the land with permission or trespassing.
The land should also be insured in the name of the estate.
You can request a quote via our landowner's liability insurance page. The land can also be insured in the name of the estate.
If you are acting as the executor, administrator or personal representative there are several Asset Searches for you to consider. These searches will help protect your risks and those of the other administrators and beneficiaries.
These searches are also often recommended to support the insurance application process.
All of these asset searches can purchased by lay executors (private individuals) or professionals alike.
Read on to find out more.
In the aftermath of a loved one's passing, the handling of their estate often falls upon executors, who are tasked with ensuring the deceased's final wishes are carried out as intended.
A crucial step in this process is conducting a Certainty Will Search, a comprehensive procedure that helps locate any existing Wills, including those that may not be registered.
Professional Executors or Administrators, Deputies or Attorneys are duty-bound to identify and settle any estate debts and liabilities.
If the deceased has any liabilities that are not clear at the time of passing, any creditors can claim payment from the Legal Representative or funds paid to beneficiaries.
Executors need to locate all the assets due to an estate and must be able to demonstrate that they have conducted a thorough search of where assets may have been held by the deceased.
There are various ways to search for all assets that are due (some for free) to an estate to give Executors and Administrations peace of mind whilst fulfilling their professional duty.
If the estate is large or complex, a professional probate genealogist can help significantly. They can help you trace missing beneficiaries or next of kin, help you fill in the blanks and also help solve complex inheritance questions.
When you have received the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration (if there isn't a Will) you may want to consider the following insurance policies:
Read on to find out more.
Early Distribution Insurance protects executors and beneficiaries against claims from unknown dependants under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. These claims often arise when an estate is distributed before the 6-month statutory waiting period expires.
Distributing an estate early without protection can be risky. If a dependent later makes a valid claim, the executor could be personally liable for reimbursing the claimant. This liability does not disappear once funds are distributed.
Solicitors typically advise waiting six months post-grant, plus an additional buffer. But in reality, pressure from beneficiaries or pending estate costs may make early distribution necessary.
Provides financial protection if unknown dependants make a successful claim
Covers both early distribution and late emerging claims validated by a court
Available online in minutes for issue-free estates
Enables executors to distribute confidently without waiting for the six-month statutory waiting period to expire
If there are known risks, the policy can be referred to underwriters for review. Otherwise, standard cover can be arranged instantly online.
Executors, Administrators or law firms can get a quote online in a couple of minutes.
Insurance that protects executors, administrators, and beneficiaries from claims by unknown creditors after the estate has been distributed. It serves as an alternative to placing a statutory Section 27 notice in the Gazette.
Even with best efforts, creditors might emerge after distribution. A Section 27 notice may protect the executor, but it doesn't protect the beneficiaries. Without insurance, any missed debt could lead to a personal financial liability for executors and possibly the clawback of distributed funds from beneficiaries.
Provides cover against claims from unknown creditors post-distribution
Removes the need to publish a Section 27 notice
Available from as little as £89.60 including IPT (price depends on estate size)
Claims are handled from notification to settlement and include legal costs
Whether you are the Executor, Administrator or a law firms get a quote online in a couple of minutes.
When the estate is ready to be distributed you should consider the risks associated with a newer will being found after the estate has been distributed. You may also want to consider protecting against the risk of a known or missing beneficiary coming forward in the future to claim against the estate.
Read on to learn about the insurance you can buy to protect against this.
Missing Will Insurance protects executors, personal representatives, and beneficiaries against financial loss if a more recent, previously unknown Will is discovered after the estate has already been distributed.
Even with diligent searches, not all Wills are registered or easy to locate. If a newer Will surfaces post-distribution, it can completely change who is entitled to the estate. Executors could be held personally liable for incorrectly distributing funds, and beneficiaries may be required to repay some or all of their inheritance.
This could lead to:
Costly legal disputes
Reimbursement claims
Emotional distress among families
Before you arrange insurance, you will first need to buy a Will Search Combined from the National Will Register. They will search their 11m Will database as well as contact all the solicitors and professional Will writers to try to trace a Will.
If no Will is found, you can then arrange Missing Will Insurance, because there is still the risk a Will exists somewhere.
Covers legal costs and payouts to new claimants if a later Will is discovered
Protects both executors and beneficiaries from financial clawback
Includes defence costs, compensation, and court-ordered payments
Available online in minutes for straightforward estates
Executors, administrators, and solicitors can obtain a quote in just a couple of minutes.
Missing Beneficiary Insurance protects executors, administrators, and beneficiaries from financial loss if someone comes forward to claim part of the estate after distribution, either because they were unknown or untraceable at the time.
If a previously unknown or missing beneficiary appears after the estate has been distributed, they may have a legal right to a share. Without insurance, executors could face personal liability, and beneficiaries might need to repay part of their inheritance.
Claims may arise from:
A known beneficiary who couldn't be located at the time of distribution
A completely unknown individual with a legitimate claim
A professional genealogy report is often required as part of the risk assessment.
Covers legal costs and payouts to valid claimants
Protects executors and beneficiaries from financial loss
Available online or via referral depending on estate complexity
Insuristic can also support the arrangement of a genealogy report via trusted partners.
Executors, Administrators or law firms can get a quote online in a couple of minutes.
This depends on the type of insurance you are arranging.
If you buy an estate administration insurance product such as missing will, missing beneficiary, section 27 or early distribution insurance then these policies will last for 10 years.
If you are insuring property or land, the cover will last for as long as the policy you have arranged. These can be annual or short term insurance polices.
In England and Wales, the person who is responsible for administering the estate of a deceased person is called an executor if there is a will, or an administrator if there is no will.
Executor
An executor is a person named in the will of the deceased person. They are responsible for carrying out the instructions in the will, such as paying the deceased's debts, distributing their assets to the beneficiaries, and filing the necessary paperwork with the court.
To become an executor, they must apply for a grant of probate from the court. This grant gives them the legal authority to act on behalf of the deceased person's estate.
Administrator
An administrator is a person appointed by the court to administer the estate of a deceased person if there is no will. They have the same responsibilities as an executor, but they do not have the same authority.
To be appointed as an administrator, the person must be able to show that they are the deceased person's next of kin.
As an Executors or administrator, you have a lot of responsibility when it comes to managing the estate of a deceased person. You are responsible for paying debts, distributing assets, and filing paperwork. This can be a complex and time-consuming process, and there is always the risk of making a mistake.
The various executor insurance policies can help protect you and other executors liability if you make a mistake.
Here are some of the situations where executor insurance may be helpful:
If you are appointed as an executor or administrator and you want to protect yourself against any financial losses as a result of a mistake
If the estate is complex and there is a risk of making a mistake.
Insurance you should consider immediately:
Insurance for property or land
Insurance to consider once the Grant of Probate has been received:
Early Distribution Insurance: If the estate needs to be distributed before the 6-month waiting period ends, you can buy insurance to protect you and the beneficiaries.
Section 27 Insurance: If you are worried about any unknown creditors who may challenge the distribution of the estate.
Insurance to consider when you are ready to distribute the estate:
Missing Beneficiary Insurance: Provides protection if an unknown beneficiary makes a claim against the estate after it is distributed. It is also useful cover if a known beneficiary cannot be contacted but the estate needs to be distributed.
Missing Will Insurance: If a newer will is found after the estate is distributed the costs of the legal challenge and any redistribution can be expensive. Plus the beneficiaries might have to repay the money they have received. This risk can be insured against through a missing will insurance policy.
The answer to this depends on the type of policy you have purchased.
If you are insuring unoccupied property in probate, you have three levels of cover you can choose from. Check out our Probate Property Insurance page for more info.
If you have purchased any of the executors indemnity insurance policies, these will cover you for:
Any amount within the terms of the policy that the executors, personal representatives and/or beneficiaries have to repay.
Any associated legal costs and expenses.
You can find out more about each policy below:
There may be an number of exclusions on executors indemnity insurance which vary by policy type.
However the most common exclusion relates to matters that were known about before the distribution of the estate. If there are issues that are known about or suspected, these should be disclosed in your quotation request. If they are not, they will be excluded.
However, if you do know about known issues, it is possible to obtain a quotation upon disclosure to the underwriters. Our insurance partner, CLS have underwritten many complex cases and may still be able to provide the peace of mind you and the beneficiaries need.
To find out more about the cover and what is or isn't included visit:
Any executor insurance usually needs to be paid upfront but the money paid can be reclaimed from the estate when it is distributed.
An Executor bank account can be set up using the estate’s funds so that you do not have to pay any upfront fees yourself. However, this can depend on the amount of money in the estate and which financial institution the deceased banked with, and you may need the Grant of Probate before receiving any estate expenses from the deceased’s funds.
Before you do anything, you should refer to your policy document for instructions on how to make a claim.
If you need advice on a potential or existing claim, you should speak to the claims team at CLS Property Insight on 01732 753 910.
As an executor or administrator, you can be personally liable for defending claims and covering losses if you don’t have Probate Insurance, even when the claim is made against the estate, not directly against you.
Contentious probate isn’t limited to courtroom battles; it often begins with disagreements over who inherits, how the estate is handled, or whether the Will is valid.
These situations may involve someone being left out of the Will, a dispute over how much someone should receive, concerns about how the Will was created, or confusion when no Will exists. Claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 are particularly common.
Such disputes can delay the probate process, increase costs, and expose executors to personal liability. It’s far better to identify and address potential risks early, before they escalate.
They’ll assess your situation, confirm whether a claim is unlikely (which may help you qualify for Early Distribution Insurance), or provide expert guidance on how to protect both yourself and the estate from risk.
Probate Insurance can help protect against:
Rob Faulkner is a leading expert in executor insurance risk and probate insurance, with nearly 30 years’ experience in the UK insurance market. He is the founder of Insuristic, a specialist provider of probate-related insurance solutions and educational content for executors.
Rob is an ACII Chartered Insurance Broker, a Chartered Manager, and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. His background spans insurers, brokers, and Insurtechs, always focused on innovation, transparency, simplicity, and fair value.
He’s passionate about helping everyday people, executors, beneficiaries, and law firms choose the right probate property insurance or unoccupied home insurance, without jargon, inflated fees, or hidden commissions.
Rob is especially passionate about product development and improving insurance education through marketing, helping people understand what they are buying. These values sit at the heart of everything we do at Insuristic.
Want to learn more? Visit my author page or follow me on LinkedIn.
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Please Note: Our broking team at SJL Insurance will need to talk to you to discuss your requirements. This is an advised service.
Please Note: Our broking team at SJL Insurance will need to talk to you to discuss your requirements. This is an advised service.
Please Note: Our broking team at SJL Insurance will need to talk to you to discuss your requirements. This is an advised service.
Please Note: Our broking team at SJL Insurance will need to talk to you to discuss your requirements. This is an advised service.
Please Note: Our broking team at SJL Insurance will need to talk to you to discuss your requirements. This is an advised service.
Please Note: Our broking team at SJL Insurance will need to talk to you to discuss your requirements. This is an advised service.