The Executor Toolbox: Your Secure Digital Estate Vault

The problem it solves

When someone dies, the people left behind often have no idea what accounts, policies, investments, subscriptions or debts existed. Executors can spend weeks or months searching through drawers, old post and email inboxes, phoning banks and waiting for letters to arrive. Assets are missed, direct debits keep running, insurance claims are delayed and deadlines are put at risk, all while the family is grieving.

The Executor Toolbox changes that. It brings everything your executors and loved ones will need into one secure, organised place, so they can act quickly, confidently and without unnecessary stress.

It is also a gift to you. Gathering your information in one place gives you a clear picture of your own finances, highlights old accounts or pensions you may have forgotten about and makes it easier to review your will and your inheritance tax position.

What you can store

How it works

Getting started is simple. You create your secure Toolbox online and work through each section at your own pace. There is no need to finish in one sitting: add what you know today and come back to fill in the rest. Clear prompts make sure nothing important is overlooked, and you can update your information whenever something changes, such as a new bank account, a house move or a change of insurer.

You decide who can see your information and when. Your Toolbox is designed to be accessed by the people you nominate, at the time you choose, so your private details stay private until they are genuinely needed.

Security and privacy

Your information is protected with encryption, secure sign-in and controlled access. We never ask you to store full passwords or PINs for bank accounts: the Toolbox is about telling your executors what exists and who to contact, not handing over the keys. That gives your family everything they need to act, while keeping you safe.

How it works with your will and LPA

Think of your estate plan as three parts working together:

• Your will says who inherits and who is in charge.
• Your Lasting Powers of Attorney say who can act for you while you are alive if you lose capacity.
• Your Executor Toolbox tells everyone where everything is.

Together they give your family a complete, joined-up plan. The Toolbox is equally useful for your attorneys, who may need to find your accounts and bills to manage your affairs if you become unwell.

The benefits for your family

• Saves time: executors can begin straight away instead of spending weeks searching.
• Prevents lost assets: forgotten accounts, pensions and policies are far less likely to be missed.
• Reduces cost: less time tracing assets can mean lower professional fees during probate.
• Reduces stress: your family can focus on each other, not on paperwork.
• Always up to date: edit your details whenever life changes.
• Accessible anytime: on your phone, tablet or computer.
• Your wishes, in your words: funeral preferences and personal messages, recorded clearly.

Getting started: a simple checklist

You do not need to gather everything at once. Most people find it easiest to start with the essentials and build from there:

• Note where your original will and any LPAs are kept, and who your executors and attorneys are.
• List your bank, building society and savings accounts, with the provider name and the last four digits of each account.
• Add your pensions and life policies, including any old workplace schemes from previous employers.
• Record your home, mortgage and household insurance details.
• Add your regular bills, subscriptions and memberships, so they can be cancelled promptly.
• Write down your funeral wishes and the people who should be told first.

Set a reminder to review your Toolbox once a year, or whenever something significant changes. Ten minutes of updating keeps it accurate and genuinely useful.

Who is it for?

The Executor Toolbox is for anyone who wants to be organised and spare their family hardship. It is particularly valuable for homeowners, parents, people with several pensions or investments, business owners, anyone living alone and anyone who has already been an executor and knows how hard the job can be. It is also a thoughtful step for adult children helping their parents get their affairs in order.

It works on its own or alongside your will and LPAs. However you choose to use it, it is one of the kindest things you can do for the people you leave behind.

Important: This page provides general information about the law in England & Wales only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules, allowances and fees can change. Your circumstances are unique, so please book a consultation for guidance tailored to you. Complex matters are referred to suitably qualified specialists.