When using a professional executor, beneficiaries may end up paying twice. On top of hourly rates, Saga Legal Services notes, executors can receive a percentage of the estate. These percentages are proportional to the size of an estate, rather than the amount of work conducted, or hours spent. The firm’s own research indicates that can vary from 1.8 to 4.5 of an estate’s total size.

The study found that one in three UK residents have already appointed a professional executor, and four in ten would consider the prospect. However, a mere 6 per cent are aware of the true nature of executor fees, and the substantial associated costs. Only 24 per cent would willingly accept a smaller inheritance in return for an estate being executed by a professional.

“Our research has shone a light on the fact that many of us do not understand the potential costs of appointing a professional executor,” said Emma Myers, head of wills, probate and lifetime planning for Saga. “The practice of charging twice is worryingly common.”

To find out more about picking the right executor for your estate, please visit the Your Money guide ‘Estate executors and you’.