The executor is entitled to be paid for their work. The court has to approve the distribution and the fee they charged, which is often set by law. If the estate has been closed, you can sue the executor if they breached their fiduciary duty.
Yes.
The most common charge would be fraud. Another is breach of fiduciary duties. The court can request a full accounting from the executor.
They are certainly able to do so. There has to be a full accounting of the funds in their control. They may need to pay off debts of the estate.
No. If your stepmother was executor of the estate, she still is the executor and entitled to those funds, not you.
The only thing you can do is petition the court. But you might want to consult an attorney. The executor is entitled to be paid for the work they do.
Of course not.
The stock funds would be a part of the estate. They can be sold to cover estate debts.
The executor of the estate may be liable for the debt.
The executor is not personally liable. They are required to use the estate funds to resolve bills.
If the home is a part of the estate, they certainly may do so. The executor is responsible for all the assets of the estate. That would include reasonable repairs to a home.
they are not a deductable amount. You can claim expenses as an executor against the estate funds. However, if you do claim executor expenses against the amount of the estate they are taxed as income for the person claiming them.
The executor of the estate can request a full accounting. That would make sure that no gifts were given during the last two years.