Executor
The person named in a Will to administer the estate after the testator's death, including collecting assets, paying debts, and distributing the residue to beneficiaries.
Executors take on legal duties as soon as the testator dies. They are personally responsible for the proper administration of the estate, including dealing with HMRC, the Probate Registry, and any disputes that arise.
Most testators appoint one to four executors, often a mix of family members and professional executors. Choosing executors with the time and the temperament for the work matters as much as choosing executors who are 'closest' in family terms.
Executors may decline to act ('renounce') before they have started administering the estate. Once they have intermeddled, they cannot easily withdraw.