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An executor has a legal duty to act in the best interests of the estate and its beneficiaries. Withholding information about assets from an heir may be seen as a breach of that duty. In general, an executor should provide full and accurate information about the estate's assets to all beneficiaries. If an heir believes that an executor is withholding information, they may seek legal recourse to enforce their rights.
Yes. That is one of the duties of the executor. The debts must be paid out of the assets of the estate before legacies are paid to the beneficiaries.
You do not have to do it out of your pocket. If you are the executor of the estate, yes, insomuch as there are assets to pay them with. If the debts exceed the assets, there are some people who will not get paid, including the beneficiaries.
The estate has to be completely inventoried. Then an independent appraiser has to provide a valuation of the assets. Once that is done, the executor can reach an agreement with the other beneficiaries. At that point he can petition the court with a buyout offer. If there is any feeling of something being inappropriate, consult a probate attorney.
Generally, an executor is in a fiduciary position and thus prohibited from using the assets of an estate for personal use. It should be reported to the court immediately.
No.It generally requires a court action of some kind to remove an executor. What a "majority" wants is irrelevant; the only thing that matters is whether the executor is acting in good faith in attempting to carry out the wishes of the deceased.Another PerspectiveThe beneficiaries can petition the court for the removal of the executor and the appointment of a successor. The complaints should be set forth in a clear and concise manner with examples of the misuse of funds. If the executor is indeed wasting estate assets the beneficiaries have a right to complain. The court will review the situation and render a decision.
Yes, the executor is responsible for securing the assets. Although co-operating with beneficiaries to avoid contentious probate is always wiser
The executor has to inventory and value all assets. They have to provide a full accounting to the probate court.
The executor has no right to see the will prior to the death of the testator. The testator may provide the named executor with an unsealed copy or allow the named executor to read the will but that would be entirely voluntary on the part of the testator.
After a person dies with a will and the estate is probated how long does the executor have to wait until assets are distributed to the beneficiaries?
The executor has a great deal of leeway in settling all debts. He has to come up with assets to clean up the debts before distribution.
The beneficiaries have no authority as to how an estate is to be handled. That is the duty of the executor or executrix who will be held personally and legally accountable to the court for all assets and property belonging to the deceased. Therefore the executor has a legal obligation to inventory ALL property and assets and to accurately enter them into the probate filing of the estate.