You can nominate up to four executors to manage your estate after you have gone.  It is wise to nominate a minimum of two in case of difficulties or the inability of one to act on your behalf.  Sometimes expert executors are required for certain parts of your estate such as for businesses or specialist investments. 

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Being an executor can be one of the most stressful things a person encounters and there is research on the subject as a result.  So, it is  a good idea to think very carefully about who you wish to nominate and whether they are comfortable doing this on their own.  You may wish to include a named professional such as a probate solicitor to be a joint or sole executor but do note that a solicitor can refuse to step down as an [joint] executor.  There may be a number of reasons for this and one of them is that they do not consider it in the best interests of handling your estate, given there are so many problems surrounding executors.  It is also a good idea to name a minimum of two executors in any event. Once an executor is named they are not obliged to continue.  There is a process where they can ask a solicitor to work with them, or take the matter over for them.  It is important this conversation takes place with your executor(s) which often, is not the case.

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The role of executor is not to be underestimated unless it is a reasonably straightforward estate. 

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Numbers of problems may ocurr with executors who fail in their duties and are downright difficult.  For example, in one case, one of three children was named executor.  being the eldest son.  He was charged with selling the house and liquidating other assets.  After 10 years he still had not done so, having decided to delay to suit himself.  The other two siblings were forced to take the matter to court in order to see their inheritance which in turn wasted a good amount of the estate along with the other consequences of ten years of stress and relationship destruction.  It really is wise to consider these matters carefully.