This is because as a trustee, on behalf of a charity, you enter into contracts in your own name. If the contract is breached you may be held to be personally liable and your own personal assets may be at risk.
An executor is also responsible for dealing with the deceased's financial liabilities. This includes dealing with the income tax position of the deceased from the date of death to the end of the administration period, as well as any capital gains tax liability on the disposal of assets.
Administering an estate or trust can be a lengthy and complex process, often taking months or even years to complete. This responsibility may require a significant time commitment, which can be particularly challenging if you have a full-time job or other personal obligations.
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.
California generally requires for the executor to distribute assets within a year of being appointed, although there are many circumstances that can cause the executor to require more time, which they may be able to get by requesting an extension from the court.
Understanding the Deceased Estate 3-Year Rule The core premise of the 3-year rule is that if the deceased's estate is not claimed or administered within three years of their death, the state or governing body may step in and take control of the distribution and management of the assets.
How Long Does An Executor Have To Sell Property In California? In the Golden State, there's no hard and fast deadline for an executor to sell a property. However, they do need to keep things moving along with the estate's timely administration.
Pursue legal action: Depending on the severity of the misconduct, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit against the executor for breach of fiduciary duty. If this is the case, seek damages for any losses to the estate caused by misconduct.
Ultimately, if the beneficiaries cannot agree, one of them, or the executors, may need to apply to the court for an order directing how the estate should be dealt with.
Options to take action. If you think an executor isn't being honest or is otherwise acting improperly, there are steps you can take. First, try to resolve the problem directly with them or their lawyer. If this doesn't work, you may want to seek legal advice.