Northern Ireland Executor Blueprint 2026
The 134-page step-by-step guide for lay executors administering estates in Northern Ireland — jurisdiction-correct NIPF1/NIPF2 forms, 2026 court fees, IHT routing, personal liability protection, and the five mandatory checks before distribution.
PDF · Instant download · £37 one-time · 30-day refund policy
What is the Northern Ireland Executor Blueprint?
The Blueprint is a 134-page educational guide designed to help lay executors act safely, avoid common legal and financial traps, and know when to involve a solicitor. It is not a rebranded England & Wales guide — it is built from the ground up on Northern Ireland statute, forms, and fee schedules.
What does the Blueprint cover?
Every stage of the NI estate administration process — from the first 72 hours after death to final distribution — mapped in a single guide with no gaps.
Jurisdiction-Correct from Page One
Uses NIPF1 (with will) and NIPF2 (intestacy) — with explicit warnings not to apply England & Wales PA1A/PA1P forms. NI intestacy, statutory legacies, and succession rules are taken from the Administration of Estates (Northern Ireland) Act 1955.
2026 Court Fees & IHT Rules
Probate fees aligned with S.R. 2026 No. 35: £326 application, £81 personal-application supplement, £17 per sealed copy. IHT treatment includes the interest clock, IHT400 vs excepted-estate routing, and the hybrid solicitor option.
Personal Liability & Intermeddling
A dedicated section on executor duties and the Point of No Return — with everyday examples of intermeddling (paying small bills, handing jewellery to relatives) so you know which actions lock you into the role before you intend to.
Five Mandatory Distribution Checks
Before you distribute a single penny: grant issued, IHT cleared, statutory creditor notice expired, all known debts paid, bankruptcy searches run against all cash beneficiaries. The Blueprint explains each check and how to evidence it.
When to Involve a Solicitor
Insolvent estates, contested wills, business interests, foreign assets, and complex IHT cases are explicitly routed to a solicitor. The Blueprint tells you clearly when DIY is not safe — not buried in footnotes.
Practical Tools for Non-Experts
Three navigation paths (72-hour crisis, full process, quick lookup), end-of-section checklists, Appendix A Quick Execution Checklist, Bank Visit Survival Kit, Bereavement Service (NI) vs Tell Us Once explained, and LPS Rates / credit reference agency prompts.
Why is this guide safe for real-world use?
This product is designed to be safe for real-world consumer use in Northern Ireland when used as intended: as a structured educational guide, not a substitute for professional advice in complex or contested cases.
Is this guide actually for Northern Ireland?
Yes. It uses NIPF1/NIPF2 probate forms — not the England & Wales PA1A/PA1P series — and clearly warns against applying E&W procedures to NI estates. Intestacy, statutory legacies (£250,000 with issue / £450,000 without issue), and succession rules are taken directly from the Administration of Estates (Northern Ireland) Act 1955.
How current are the fees and tax figures?
Court fees are aligned with S.R. 2026 No. 35: £326 application, £81 personal-application supplement, £17 per sealed copy. IHT figures follow current HMRC rules. The Blueprint includes a verification date (2026-Q2) and points to primary-source references in Section 14 so you can re-verify any figure that may have changed.
What protects me from personal liability as executor?
A dedicated personal liability section explains executor duties before any forms are completed. The Point of No Return warning lists everyday actions that lock you into the role. Five mandatory checks before distribution protect you if new creditors appear after assets are distributed.
Does it tell me when to get a solicitor?
Explicitly. Insolvent or near-insolvent estates, contested wills, significant business or trust interests, foreign assets, and complex IHT cases are all routed to a solicitor. There is also a hybrid option for borderline IHT cases: you handle most of the admin and a solicitor handles IHT400.
Who is this Blueprint for?
Named executor in a Northern Ireland will
Administrator of an intestate NI estate
Family member handling a parent's or spouse's estate
Executor who has never done this before
Anyone who has been handed forms and doesn't know where to start
Anyone who found a E&W guide that doesn't apply to NI
Not for you? If your estate involves contested beneficiaries, significant business assets, foreign property, or you suspect insolvency — the Blueprint will tell you exactly that, and point you to the right professional path. It is designed to route complex cases safely, not to replace a solicitor in them.
Key NI figures in the Blueprint
Every figure below is verified against Northern Ireland primary sources — not adapted from England & Wales data.
Go deeper on any topic
Six companion pages cover every question about the Blueprint in detail — methodology, common mistakes, full FAQ, trust validation, preview, and how it compares to alternatives.
Step-by-step walkthrough of the Blueprint's structure and navigation system.
The seven most costly executor errors in NI estates — and how the Blueprint helps you avoid them.
Every question buyers ask before purchasing, answered in plain English.
How the Blueprint was researched, verified, and what it is not.
A look inside the structure, section map, and appendix before you buy.
DIY research, this Blueprint, and instructing a solicitor — side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Is this guide actually for Northern Ireland, or is it an England & Wales guide rebranded?
Written specifically for Northern Ireland. It uses NIPF1 and NIPF2 forms, draws intestacy rules from the Administration of Estates (Northern Ireland) Act 1955, and uses NI statutory legacy figures of £250,000 and £450,000 — not the E&W £322,000 figure.
How current are the probate fees and IHT figures?
Court fees match S.R. 2026 No. 35: £326 application, £81 personal supplement, £17 per sealed copy. IHT follows current HMRC rules. Verified 2026-Q2 with a primary-source reference section for anything that may change after publication.
What if I make a mistake as executor — am I personally on the hook?
The Blueprint covers personal liability before you touch any forms. It includes a Point of No Return warning (everyday actions that lock you in) and five mandatory distribution checks that protect you from later creditor claims.
When should I just hire a solicitor instead?
The Blueprint routes you to a solicitor for: insolvent estates, contested wills, business or trust interests, foreign assets, and complex IHT. For borderline IHT cases it recommends a hybrid — you do most of the admin, a solicitor handles IHT400.
Does this cover estates with no will?
Yes. Both testate (will, NIPF1) and intestate (no will, NIPF2) estates are covered in full. NI-specific intestacy rules and the correct statutory legacy figures are used throughout.
What format is the Blueprint and how do I receive it?
PDF, 134 pages. Delivered instantly via Gumroad after purchase. A 30-day refund policy applies. No subscription, no recurring charges.
Start with a clear picture of your role
134 pages. Every stage of NI probate mapped. The whole picture, one clear path.
Get the Blueprint — £37PDF · Instant download · 30-day refund policy · Northern Ireland only