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.
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.
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.
Removing A Person You Don't Trust as Executor Because of this risk, beneficiaries should not hesitate to request the removal of an executor if there is true mismanagement of the estate. If an executor breaches their fiduciary duty, they may be subject to serious financial and legal ramifications.
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.
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.
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.
Once the probate process begins, the executive of the estate has 12 months to complete the probate process. One exception to this rule would be if a federal tax filing is required as part of the probate process. In that case, the courts allow 18 months to settle an estate.