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As an executor, you must provide a formal accounting at least once a year, but beneficiaries can request an informal probate accounting in California at any time. When they do, you must produce it. Because of this, maintaining thorough and accurate records of the estate's finances is crucial.

Executors have to keep beneficiaries informed of whether or not they're entitled to anything in the estate and they have to provide proper accounting in a timely manner. That said, as a general rule, it's unreasonable to expect updates and accounting during the first few months of the estate administration.

Settling Debts Without Beneficiary Approval One of the most challenging aspects of this process can be selling estate property to meet these financial obligations. Texas law allows executors to sell property without the beneficiaries' approval, which can be necessary to keep the estate solvent.

Executors are required to keep beneficiaries reasonably informed about the status of estate administration — a duty which generally includes accounting. For this reason, if an executor is doing their job, it usually won't be necessary for beneficiaries to request an estate accounting.

Except in very limited situations where will terms cannot be followed, such as where an asset was disposed of by the decedent prior to death and, therefore, cannot be distributed at death, an executor cannot override the intent of the will to change the distribution scheme or remove a beneficiary.

As an Executor, what you cannot do is go against the terms of the Will, Breach Fiduciary duty, fail to act, self-deal, embezzle, intentionally or unintentionally through neglect harm the estate, and cannot do threats to beneficiaries and heirs.

Probate Without an Attorney: The Muniment of Title Exception It is generally appropriate only in the simplest of small estates; for example, when the only property of an estate is a house that needs to be transferred to the sole beneficiary named in the will.

Independent Administration Application for Probate of Will and Issuance of Letters Testamentary. Form 7-2. Application for Probate of Copy of Will and Issuance of Letters Testamentary. Form 7-3. Application for Probate of Will and Issuance of Letters of Independent Administration. Form 7-4.

Asset Type Probate Requirement Real Estate ? Usually requires probate unless alternative arrangements are in place, such as a trust or joint ownership with right of survivorship. Bank Accounts ? May require probate if no designated beneficiaries or joint ownership arrangements exist.