Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Personal representatives definition

What does Personal representatives mean? In probate and estate administration, personal representatives are the individuals who step into the shoes of the deceased to collect, manage and distribute the estate. In England and Wales and Northern Ireland, the term covers executors (appointed by will) and administrators (appointed on intestacy or where no executor can act) once a grant of probate or letters of administration is issued. It is defined in legislation (for example, the Administration of Estates Act 1925). In Ireland, the Succession Act 1965 defines personal representatives likewise, with grants issued by the Probate Office. In Scotland, the officeholder is an executor (executor-nominate or...

Estate administration by personal representatives in England and Wales: duties, statutory powers, investment, minors, conflicts, court applications and remuneration

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Practice notes

Personal representatives’ duties

Under the Administration of Estates Act 1925 (AEA 1925), personal representatives (PRs) are required to:

gather in and realise the deceased’s estate; and
administer it in accordance with the law.

The court may oblige PRs to produce an inventory of the estate and full accounts of their administration. They should be cautious about resisting beneficiaries’ requests for an account, or risk substantial costs being ordered against them. See News Analyses: Holding personal representatives to account-discharging an executor’s cardinal duty (Ali v Taj [2020] EWHC 213 (Fam)) and Indemnity costs following failed appeal against order for account and inventory (Ali v Taj).

PRs also have a duty to settle the deceased’s debts with Due diligence, taking into account the estate assets properly available for that purpose. They should also consider any obligations owed to potential beneficiaries arising from claims they may have had against the deceased. If in doubt, PRs ought to seek directions from the court. See News Analysis: A deceased paedophile-what are the personal representative’s duties towards potential victims? (Re the estate of)...

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Web page updated on 29/05/2026

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