Will - to put my child when reaches 18 as sole executor?

[Longlunch]

I am only now getting round to do my Will. As my first executor I am putting my DH, then as a second I am thinking to put my DC -when reaches 18-. The solicitor mentioned that some people did not do that as they thought leaving an 18 DC with a potentially large sum of money could be irresponsible … I never thought of that.

Any viewpoints on this?

Thanks!

Do you mean to leave your whole estate to your DC when they reach 18? Or just to be executor?

If the first I am looking to do similar and my DH and I agree to keep it in trust until they are 25, as 18 is too young for such responsibility

Executor and beneficiary are two separate things....

I don't know many 18 year olds who have the administration skills to execute a will!

Thank you all, after writing I realised I was mixing a couple of things and I was not very clear.

• leave the whole state to DC (after both DH and me have died), only minor gifts to charity
• Also if my DH has died, then I was intending to put him as executor as well.

I did not think of putting it in Trust ... now I realise that solicitor was suggesting that some people do that.

Reason why I am putting DC as sole executor is that I am not from UK (live here), my DH has parents , not siblings, and my family is abroad where rules are different and from practical point of view they would not know what to do ...
DC can always pay a solicitor firm to do all paperwork on his behalf, if it was me I would not know what to do either!

I was planning on doing this myself. My ds is my sole beneficiary and I was planning on changing him to the executor when he reaches 18.

I think it is best for people to appoint solicitor - people who are already upset do not have the knowledge to sort all this out (I am not a lawyer or work for one)

EVERYBODY needs to make a will

Someone I knew has recently died young - with a complicated estate and no will. The only young adult child, already devastated, does not know where to start.

I think it is best for people to appoint solicitor - people who are already upset do not have the knowledge to sort all this out (I am not a lawyer or work for one)

What complete rubbish - many bereaved people have the knowledge to administer estates, despite also being 'upset', I did my mums.

Op, how old is your DS, what is the likelihood of you both dying before he turns say 21? Could you maybe add a trusted friend as a joint executor, or one of DH parents (how old are you/they?)

We changed our wills 3yrs ago, putting SIL as sole executor, to be joined at 18 by each DC. DS is now 20, DD almost 18, whilst I wouldn't necessarily want either of them alone, I think joint with another adult (two in our case) is fine.

If you do go with DS as sole executor at 18, then maybe make a detailed list of what assets you have, where house deeds are etc to make life easier.

We put 23 as the age to attain, but I think 25 would be better. But then you need to sort out a trustee for the estate too.

Being an executor can be a pretty hefty headache - Dh has done it at least 3 times, he's very clued up and it's still been a PITA. I think it's too far too much to ask of any 18 year old on their own.

Isn't there anyone else you could ask - someone older and hopefully more experienced - - to be joint executor?

I don't really agree with using solicitors - they usually charge a bomb, though that's not altogether surprising since it can be extremely time consuming even when the person's affairs are relatively simple.

I've administered two complicated intestacies, both in my late twenties, and coped fine. And I also know a couple of people who have regretted having solicitors executing their elderly parents estates. I'd say appoint another executor, review when your son is 21. You will know if he has the admin skills by then. Also- he can always decide to appoint a solicitor, but if you nominate one it's hard to get out of it.