Who has a right to be present at an accounting of an estate?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Who has a right to be present at an accounting of an estate?
Can the executor of a Will be able to select who can be present, outside of the the 4 children named in the Will? My brother-in-law is disruptive and disrespectful, and this is the 3rdmeeting I am having because everyone keeps yelling and shouting and threatening me. How can I stop this harassment?
Asked on July 8, 2011 under Estate Planning, New Jersey
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
First off I am so sorry for your loss. Now, the formal and informal procedures that surround estate probate and an accounting are best asked to an attorney in your state. I am assuming here that you do not have an attorney, which may be an issue for you as the executor. You obviously need someone to watch your back here. It is unclear that you have to formally convene for the accounting of the estate. What is clear here is that your brother-in--law is objecting but seems to have no standing to do so (he did not inherit). At this point in time I think it may be best for you to have the proceeding formally in court. Here is the protocol for New Jersey:
The Executor/Administrator may be required to make a final accounting to the Court. Usually this accounting is informal and does not require a Court appearance. An informal accounting must be approved by all interested parties (beneficiaries) and the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey (in the case of a charitable beneficiary). If an interested party wants to challenge the accounting, then a formal Court hearing would be necessary.
I think you should request that the court issue you a hearing date. The Judge will keep everyone in line and expel your brother in law if he gets out of hand. Protect yourself. Good luck.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.