If my grandmother passed away and willed me her house which I live in, do the executors have the right to have a key?
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If my grandmother passed away and willed me her house which I live in, do the executors have the right to have a key?
My aunt and uncle are listed as executors of her estate and feel they should be able to come and go in the house as they please. I feel totally disrespected and disregarded. My uncle said I needed his consent to change the locks. Is that true?
Asked on July 26, 2015 under Estate Planning, Georgia
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
Until the will is probated and the assets (including the house) distributed to the heirs, the house is an asset of the estate, and the executors of the estate have a legitimate right to asset the home and a legitimate need to have keys thereto, such as for emergencies; you also may not change the locks without the executors' consent (or arguably, you could change the locks but then give them a copy of the keys, if there is some pressing need to do so, such as third parties, like home health aids, maids/housekeepers, etc. have copies of the current keys, and you do not want them to have access anymore).
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