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Do I need to disclose financial information from my deceased grandmother's, deceased brother's, estate to her beneficiaries?
Anonymous4 views3 answers
I am my grandmother's executrix, was POA, next of kin and a beneficiary as well. Her son's now want a disclosure of her brother's estate. She gifted to me before her death from this inheritance. They have already been denied access from her brother's lawyer. So, this did not enter into her estate and they feel they are entitled to any gift that I may have received. What are my rights to protect my privacy? These beneficiaries chose not to be a part of their mother's life for 9 years.
Stephen R. ZastrowGeneral Practice LawyerYoungstown, NY ·
Assuming your grandma's sons are beneficiaries of her will, they are entitled to an inventory and accounting of her estate. If they want information on grandma's brother's estate, they will have to get that from the brother's executrix. If you are not the brother's executrix, you have no estate information to give them.
They can do a number of legal proceedings to make your life uncomfortable and attempt to wash out the truth. Are you represented by an attorney as executrix? If not, get a probate attorney who is comfortable with possible estate litigation. This may not be something that just goes away if they have enough zeal.
As executrix of your grandma's estate, you have a fiduciary duty to provide an inventory and accounting to all beneficiaries of her estate. Meaning the assets, liabilities, creditors, payments, etc. As far as her brother's estate, if you are not the executrix, then you do not have a duty to disclose information pertaining to the estate. They need to contact the executor to obtain such information.
