Some actions an executor may take after the loss of your relative can make you lose some or all of your inheritance. Mishandling the estate, for example, can cause you to fail to receive the assets or money the deceased intended for you to inherit. A prudent way to protect your inheritance is by taking legal action immediately after you notice that the executor is mishandling the estate. Below are some behaviors that might prompt you to contact an attorney to help you take legal action against the administrator.
Failure or Unlawful Distribution of Assets
The person overseeing the inheritance process should distribute assets immediately after paying outstanding debts. However, they must wait for the court's approval if there is a dispute. Still, if the administrator withholds or delays the process illegally, you can take legal action against them. You may also sue them for awarding some beneficiaries more assets than indicated in the will. In such cases, a legal advisor can help you file suit to help ensure that the administrator awards you the assets or money intended by the deceased. Your legal representative may also request the judge to penalize the administrator for their wrongdoing.
Conducting Dubious Transactions
If the administrator sells assets at a lower rate than the current market price, you might have a right to sue them. Accordingly, you need to hire an attorney to investigate the issue and determine the reason for the unreasonable sale. If your lawyer discovers that the will's enforcer is taking these actions in their own interests, they will take legal action for mismanagement. This might be the case if the will's administrator sold the assets cheaply to receive kickbacks or gifts. In such a case, your lawyer can request the judge to order the defendant to reimburse your family the money you lost because of their dubious transactions.
Delays in Implementation
The person in charge of your relative's will ought to do everything possible to minimize the time and expenses associated with probate. This includes starting the asset distribution process immediately after your relative's demise. Notably, if they take too long to act, your family can incur unexpected expenses, which might reduce your inheritance. Therefore, ask your lawyer to intervene if the administrator is delaying in offering you your inheritance. Once you do this, your attorney will determine what steps can fast-track the process and help you receive your assets or money sooner.
The issues above might not necessarily mean that will enforcer is in the wrong. As such, it is inadvisable to jump to conclusions and take measures that could complicate the probate process. Instead, discuss the issue with a probate attorney to ascertain whether you need to take legal action. For more information, contact a probate attorney near you.
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