Skip to Content

We are a Veteran Owned Business, providing 20% discounts for Veterans, First Responders, Elementary and High School teachers. Please contact us to set up a phone or Zoom meeting. Taking care of you and your family, It's What We Do!

Keeping an Eye on the Executor in Montgomery County

Posted on Fri Oct 10, 2014, on Probate and Estate Administration

From our “Ask a Question” Mailbag: I am a beneficiary of my aunt’s will. Should I be keeping an eye on the executor?  What do you suggest for Keeping an Eye on Montgomery County Executors?

Probate Attorney explains Keeping an Eye on Montgomery County Executors

Keeping an Eye on Montgomery County Executors.

Recently updated July 1, 2018

Beneficiaries of Montgomery County estates will often approach us asking our help in keeping an eye on the executor of an estate. This is often the result of the executor not sharing information about the estate with the beneficiary, the executor’s unreasonable delays, or when the executor’s behavior has raised the beneficiary’s concern.

What steps should I take in keeping an eye on the executor?

When we are asked about what steps a beneficiary can take in keeping an eye on the executor, I will outline various options, such as:

  • Reviewing the estate’s file at the Montgomery Register of Wills. The executor is required to make certain, timely filings with the Register. These filings may hold valuable information about the executor’s progress…or lack thereof.
  • Contact the executor’s attorney to let that attorney know that you have now retained an attorney experienced in Montgomery Probate and an attorney experienced in the Montgomery Orphans’ Court. Sometimes an executor just needs a “nudge” from a lawyer to compete the estate.
  • Request an Informal Accounting and copies of the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Return. We would then review these documents with you for accuracy. Some executors make mistakes on these documents that are difficult for a non-Probate Attorney to recognize.
  • Threaten to file a Petition for Formal Accounting and possibly a Petition to Remove the Executor. Sometimes it is necessary to go to court. This is a threat our firm can back up, as we have both a Probate and a Montgomery Orphans’ Court Litigation department.

What is a good plan in keeping an eye on the executor?

The exact plan of action taken whenever a Beneficiary asks us to help with keeping an eye on an executor will depend on the exact facts of the case and the relationships between the interested parties.

Some executors are slow to close an estate because of legitimate reasons. But at other times it is because they are lazy or emotionally unable to complete the job. They can be spiteful or they can even be criminals using delay to cover theft. When a Montgomery estate is not being handled in a manner you think appropriate, it is a good idea to have an experienced Montgomery Probate and Orphans’ Court lawyer on your side.

Further Estate Litigation Questions?

Keeping an eye on the executor is only one of many Estate Litigation issues our firm addresses. Consequently, if you want to learn more, please read my more detailed article, Trust and Estate Litigation All You Need to Know.

In Conclusion: 

I hope that this article was helpful in explaining steps in keeping an eye on the executor. Further, I included links to even more detailed information on my website. Therefore, please contact me and let me know how I did. Certainly, your comments and questions are welcome!

Let our Lawyers help walk you through what can be a confusing process. To begin with, call to speak to one of our experienced Litigation Attorneys.  By all means, our lawyers are ready to answer your questions. In fact, feel free to contact our office for a free consultation. Ultimately our goal is to put our 25 years of estate litigation experience to work for you.

Wills, Trusts, Probate, and Estate Litigation It’s All We Do!

Will Contest Attorney, Glen Ridenour.

Author, Peter Klenk, Esq.

Tags:

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Probate, Probate Attorney, Probate Lawyer

Peter KlenkPeter Klenk

What Our clients are saying

Klenk Law Logo
Stars

Joe Peters

Always professional and very responsive. Everyone on the staff that I have worked with. I look forward to continuing our relationship.

Klenk Law Logo
Stars

Chantee C.

Peter recently gave a presentation about Wills & Trusts at my employer, and it was fantastic! He was extremely knowledgeable and provided valuable information to the group. People were very engaged and asked several questions, all of which Peter thoroughly answered. Personally, my husband and I have selected Peter to help us with our estate planning, and he has been very helpful in providing us with all of the information we need to provide a secure future for our family. Thank you, Peter!

Klenk Law Logo
Stars

Sheldon P.

Everything about my experience was a 10+! Peter and his staff made what I thought would be a difficult process easy and understandable. Every detail was handled correctly. No other firm could possibly do better than Klenk Law!

Klenk Law Logo
Stars

B.A.

Peter Klenk and his associates are responsive and professional - It is a pleasure to work with their team. If you have needs in estate planning or administration, they are the firm to go to in the Philadelphia area!

Klenk Law Logo
Stars

Kevin K.

I was referred to Peter after my divorce to put documents together to protect my assets. He suggested a number of documents that would help protect my children and their future. Also, he put together wills, power of attorney and living wills. I initially spoke with him on the phone, he took 30-40 minutes to understand my situation and explain the benefits of having such documents. After a week or two, I met with him in his office and signed the documents. Everything else was remote phone calls and emails. He re-explained these documents and what whom to share. I am in good hands.

Let us put our expertise to work for you.

Free consultation within 24 hours.