"I just received my release papers the other day and have since learned that my sibling may be contesting the will. Will the interim distribution now be put on hold until this matter is settled with my sibling?"
Probably. It's really not unusual that at the time the accounting and releases are sent out to beneficiaries, a new fuss begins. It's usually because a beneficiary receives the accounting and sees something he or she doesn't like. Something is missing or the numbers don't add up. They then say they are going to contest the will.
In reality, their issue is not with the validity of the will but with the contents of the accounting. If they don't like the executor's accounting, it has nothing to do with whether the will was valid or not. The appropriate response is not to begin a long, arduous, expensive lawsuit against the will but simply to ask the executor for more information. Perhaps some receipts to back up the numbers. Hopefully if they lawyer up, their lawyers will tell them this.
Obviously in this case I don't know what the specific issue might be that causes your sibling to question the will. But what sort of issue could it be that wasn't important all through the administration of the estate and only arises (perhaps several months after the testator died) when the accounting is produced? The time for casting suspicion on the validity of the will or the competence of the testator would be long past. This just leads me further to believe it's actually a problem with the accounting and not the will.
To answer your question, the interim distribution most likely would be postponed. However, a postponement while an executor provides additional information to a beneficiary could take a week or two to resolve (assuming the executor acts responsibly and answers the beneficiary's concerns). A postponement for a lawsuit could be expected to take five years.
If it's a problem with the accounting that cannot be resolved by the exchange of information, the worst case scenario is that the beneficiary would compel the executor to pass accounts. While this doesn't take as long as a trial by any means, it could be a matter of months.
The interim distribution would have to be postponed during this time because the numbers would all change. Remember that if an executor passes his accounts, the legal fees and any costs for that are usually covered by the estate. This leaves less money for the beneficiaries, so each of you would get less on an interim distribution. You would have to be provided with new paperwork.
With any luck, your sibling's concerns can be addressed by the executor in a timely manner and the disruption will be minor.
Lynne,
ReplyDeleteThis is so timely and right to the minute.
Are you thinking of me? ;)
My matter has been going on for 15 years.
As you are aware my Estate Matter is a Royal Mess. I do know that 'some' Executors play games and the Court often penalizes them, and rightfully so. IMO. Beneficiaries and their Lawyers also play games. In my case the Court has approved my Pass Accounts. My sibling's Pass Accounts have not been (they are mess) and she is in possession of Estate Funds and other. My lawyer has not subpoenaed my sibling nor is there a Court Order that has been signed by a Judge.
I just discovered that I had made a mistake re removal of Occupancy Rent. I took it from the Estate Bank Account. My sibling is in the family home. I have a reasonable expectation to get rent. I started taking rent out 5 years from the start of my Estate Matter-problem. Something in a letter from my Lawyer triggered something and I realized that Occupancy Rent is paid directly from my sibling and NOT from the Estate Account. That Account is empty as you might imagine. It is strange that none of the Lawyers involved made me aware of this error (perhaps not so strange considering). This would have cost me 10's of thousands of dollars. My lawyer has written that I have refused to pay his legal bill. That is not the case as I have always done so and in his case-big time. So, I am prepared to return the Rent back to the Estate Bank Account that I have taken out plus interest. This way my lawyer gets paid. My sibling then has to pay me Rent appraised for each year plus interest, compounded) for 15 years. There is plenty more to get Resolved and Settled.
Webeye
How many such delays of an ID last over 2 years? Are there general statistics or data on this area. What is the real stuation with ID? What is a minor disruption and exactly when does it turn into a "major" disruption? Thanks..
ReplyDeleteI don't know of any statistics about how many estates incur a delay in an interim distribution. I'd be interested in knowing the numbers on that too but I can't even imagine who would gather that information.
DeleteWhat do you mean by "what is the real situation"?
In my opinion, a minor disruption is one that may be addressed and resolved within a matter of weeks. Once it goes beyond that, because of the reactions of the people involved, it grows in importance.
Lynne