Generally, in California creditors of a decedent's estate have up to one year (365 days) from the decedent's death to file a timely creditor claim. The claim must be filed inside an open probate court proceeding.
Liability when an executor makes a mistake Unfortunately, a genuine mistake can sometimes snowball into a much bigger and often expensive problem that can be very complicated to resolve. The executor of an estate can be held personally liable for a mistake that results in a loss to the estate.
Can You Sue A Deceased Person? The short answer to this question in California is yes. Two sets of California statutes set out the applicable law under these circumstances: Code of Civil Procedure Sections 337.40 through 377.42; and Probate Code Sections 550 through 554.
Can You Sue a Dead Person? No, you legally cannot sue a dead person. However, you can file a lawsuit and/or creditor claim against their estate to request compensation from the deceased's assets.
Whether you're an executor or administrator, under the law you're called the personal representative. Every personal representative has a duty to account. This involves accounting to beneficiaries regularly. It also requires responding to reasonable requests for information.
The executor or trustee can sell the property without approval from all beneficiaries as long as they are selling it in the best interest of the beneficiaries and the trust and at market value. This decision depends on several factors, including the debt the deceased person had.
Misconduct isn't taken lightly. It includes theft, fraud, or severe negligence. The court examines if these actions have harmed or could harm the estate's value. They also consider conflicts of interest, where the executor might benefit at the estate's expense.
However, as a rule, an executor must settle the deceased's estate within 1 year.
Can An Executor Sell Estate Property Without Getting Approval From All Beneficiaries? The executor can sell property without getting all of the beneficiaries to approve. However, notice will be sent to all the beneficiaries so that they know of the sale but they don't have to approve of the sale.