Is there a timeframe for closing an estate?

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Is there a timeframe for closing an estate?

I am curious if there is a legal time frame to have an estate closed after a parent dies. My sister is the executor of my mother’s Will and she will answer any of the lawyer’s calls or emails asking about outstanding items that need to be distributed between 4 of us siblings. I just want to know when I have the legal right to ask her to do something, as its been almost 9 months since my mom passed away.

Asked on November 15, 2017 under Estate Planning, New York

Answers:

M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 6 years ago | Contributor

I am so sorry for your loss.  The time frame generally depends on the size and complexity of the estate.  Your sister as Executor will have to file an Estate Tax Return within 9 months of the date of death so that is coming up.  Is the lawyer the Estate lawyer or your Mother's personal lawyer?  She does not have to talk to her if she is not the estate lawyer.  And if she is, then maybe someoje needs to address this lack of information in a different way: by hiring their own attorney to write a letter to her as Fiduciary and to demand an Accounting.  Good luck.


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