If an executor does not do their job the right way, the beneficiaries of the Will can potentially sue for “breach of fiduciary duty”. In that instance, the executor can be held personally liable to all of the beneficiaries under the Will.
An estate beneficiary has a right to sue the executor or administrator if they are not competently doing their job or are engaged in fiduciary misconduct.
An heir or beneficiary who thinks the executor is not doing as the will directs or is not acting in the interest of the estate has the right to appeal to the probate court.
In Texas, beneficiaries hold the right to pursue legal action against an estate's executor if they perceive a violation of their rights.
If executors or administrators are not diligent in carrying out the aforementioned duties, estate beneficiaries should reach out to an estate lawyer, who can utilize the courts to compel the executor or administrator to provide beneficiaries information about administration, as well as accountings.
If you'd like to file as the executor of an estate with no will, we've outlined 6 steps for you to follow: Find out your place in line. Obtain waivers from other family members. Contact the court. File your administration petition. Go to the probate hearing. Get a probate bond.
A creditor then has a time limit within which they may file a claim against the estate. They must do so within the later of: Six months from when the probate process officially begins (i.e., the date letters testamentary or of administration are granted), or. Four months after the date the mandatory notice is received.
California Probate Codes on Suing an Estate Probate Code 551 allows for filing a lawsuit within 40 days with an additional year if the injured person was unaware of the defendant's demise.
Texas probate law sets a strict statute of limitations of only four years for any heir or beneficiary to make a legal claim for inheritance. The four-year clock starts ticking as soon as the adoption is complete for adopted children. For other heirs or beneficiaries, it begins on the date of the parent's death.
The executor will then collect and distribute the estate property. This is almost always done with the help from an attorney. If there is no will, the personal representative is called an "administrator." If there is a will but the executor can't serve for any reason, the court will also appoint an administrator.