Someone is claiming an item lent to deceased

The question I have is as follows;
A respectable and trustworthy friend of a deceased person has come forward to look for the return of an item he says he lent a deceased person before they passed away. There is no reason to suspect the item was not lent, but it cannot be found. The item was a smallish electronic thing. The deceased did not mention it but its possible ( if not likely) he did have the item at some stage, as he was in to electronic items as a hobby etc.

How best for the executor to resolve the situation ? Should he offer other goods from the estate ( to same approx value ) ? He does not want to offend friend of the deceased but cannot find or even remember seeing the particular item among the deceased many items.

Maybe the executor should offer to show the deased belongings + just show it cannot be found ?

What's the value of the item?

rabbit said:

Maybe the executor should offer to show the deased belongings + just show it cannot be found ?

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Personally, I don't think this is a situation where the letter of the law is of much use. If the person in question was a close friend of the deceased, then this is probably the best course of action.

rmelly said:

What's the value of the item?

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Maybe 200 or 250 euro. It was specialist hobby electronics, not really of interest or use to 99% of the population. Maybe the deceased lent it to someone else or whatever ; its just lost. Thanks for your interest / replies.

Personally I'd do as you suggested, let him look through his study / workshop, whatever (accompanied though).

If he can't find the item, consider offering to refund him.

Instead:If you can't find it, Why not give him the electronic equipment that the deceased person had if nobody else has an interest in it. You'll probably end up binning them anyway.