why is executor brother attorney asking for original mom's death certificate?

by Treva Mertz DDS 9 min read

Why do executors need original death certificates?

Jun 21, 2021 · 8. Stock certificates, bonds, and money market accounts. Lastly, suppose your loved one had any stocks, bonds, or money market accounts. In that case, you’ll need to submit a certified copy of the death certificate to access these accounts. The trader or bank will keep a copy of this for their own records.

What are the duties of an executor when a parent dies?

Nov 11, 2021 · This typically includes their name and address, their birth date and birthplace, each parent’s name and birthplace, and the date, place, time, and cause of their death. A death certificate also may provide information about the decedent’s marital status, educational status, and access to benefits, such as Social Security or military benefits.

Who needs a death certificate after a loved one dies?

Jun 07, 2021 · Ideally, the document will name the individual the decedent wanted to act as executor of her estate. Once filed, the will is a matter of public record. Anyone can see it. Interested parties can also usually learn the name of the executor by getting a copy of the death certificate from the county registrar.

Can a family member take control of an estate after death?

Mar 26, 2019 · The executor is responsible for initiating the probate court proceedings by opening the estate for probate, which generally requires procuring a death certificate and an original copy of your mother’s will. Next, the executor’s task typically is to inventory all probate property and its value. In order to determine an item’s value, particularly in the case of jewelry or antiques, for …

Who must have a copy of a will?

Obviously, the executor must have a copy of the will. He’s responsible for settling the deceased’s estate according to its terms. He must review it to understand who the beneficiaries are and to learn of any special restrictions or instructions that might exist about their shares of the estate.

What is probate process?

Probate is a mysterious process to most people after all, it’s something most of us experience only a time or two, when a parent or spouse dies. The executor, charged with safeguarding assets, paying bills, and distributing property, has the greatest responsibility. But the process can produce anxiety in other family members, too.

How to keep beneficiaries from worrying?

To keep beneficiaries from worrying (and complaining), don’t wait for them to come to you. When you take on your executor’s responsibilities, starting with filing the will and securing estate property, let everyone know.

Can anyone see a will?

Once filed, the will is a matter of public record. Anyone can see it.

Can a spouse be a trustee?

It’s quite common to be both a trustee and a beneficiary of a trust. The surviving spouse, for example, is almost always the successor trust ee and beneficiary of a family trust. And it’s quite common for one adult child to be the trustee and all the siblings to be beneficiaries of their parents’ trusts.

Can a will be read by anyone?

Wills Are Public Record. Remember that a will becomes a public record for anyone to see and read when it’s filed for probate with the state court. The beneficiaries of the will can request that the probate judge seal the court records to prevent the general public from viewing it under certain circumstances.

Can an executor do anything?

So an executor can't do anything that intentionally harms the interests of the beneficiaries. As an executor, you cannot: Do anything to carry out the will before the testator (the creator of the will) passes away. Neither the executor nor the beneficiaries have any rights with regard to the estate before the testator passes away.

What can an executor do?

As the executor of an estate, you are responsible for managing the probate process, which means you’ll be interacting with the probate court and making decisions about the handling of probate assets. You will: Open probate with the court. Identify the deceased’s assets. Provide notice to heirs and interested parties.

Can an executor act against a will?

There are limits on what an executor can and cannot do. If you’ve been named an executor, a couple basic rules of thumb are that you can’t do anything that disregards the provisions in the will, and you can’t act against the interests of any of the beneficiaries. Sounds pretty straightforward, right?

What is the job of executor of an estate?

As the executor of an estate, you are responsible for managing the probate process, which means you’ll be interacting with the probate court and making decisions about the handling of probate assets. Learn more about the duties of an executor.

What happens if a person dies without a will?

If the deceased died without a signed will, the deceased died without a will. No one else can sign it on their behalf, and the estate will be managed in accordance with that state’s laws of intestate succession. Take action to manage the estate prior to being appointed as executor by the court.

Can a beneficiary contest a will?

He can file a petition with the court contesting the will if he’s an heir-at-law, but you have no authority to make changes to the will. When beneficiaries or heirs contest the will, it’s never fun for the executor. However, it’s their right to do so, and you can’t stop them.

Does the passing of a loved one absolve the debts or taxes of the decedent?

People often forget that the passing of a loved one does not absolve the debts or taxes of the decedent. Rather, the debts and taxes now become an obligation of the estate of the decedent. This means that the value of a given estate can’t be truly computed until all valid debts, taxes, and costs of administration are paid.

What is the role of executor in a trust?

The executor is tasked with making sure that all debts, taxes, and costs of administration are paid before assets are distributed. The executor is a fiduciary. It is important to remember that the executor is acting in a position of trust on behalf of the estate and all interested parties.

Is real estate a non-probate asset?

The executor of an estate, after being appointed by the court, only has control over assets called “probate assets.”. There usually exists “non-probate assets” over which the executor has no control. Typically , real estate is the largest “non-probate asset” that we find in an estate.

Does the executor of an estate have control over the estate?

The executor of an estate, after being appointed by the court, only has control over assets called “probate assets.”. There usually exists “non-probate assets” over which the executor has no control. Typically, real estate is the largest “non-probate asset” that we find in an estate. Therefore, the executor does not have ...

Is an executor a fiduciary?

The executor is a fiduciary. It is important to remember that the executor is acting in a position of trust on behalf of the estate and all interested parties. The interested parties include the court, beneficiaries of the estate, creditors of the estate, and the government (taxes).

How long does it take to contest a will?

It is imperative that you consult with your attorney to determine how long you have to file a will contest. The administration process may take months or even years. The administration process for an estate usually takes several months to complete. There are even instances where the administration takes several years.

How long does it take to administer an estate?

The administration process may take months or even years . The administration process for an estate usually takes several months to complete. There are even instances where the administration takes several years. You need to be aware of what factors can lead to a delay in administration so you can plan for your distribution.

Thomas Devlin Begley III

The terms and conditions of the deed and the will prevail. If the deed is currently titled in the names of all three children or if it was left as a specific bequest, then the executor has no authority to sell, encumber, lease or otherwise manage the property.

Sherrille Diane Akin

You should really contact an experienced probate or real estate attorney ASAP to review the facts of your situation and advise you regarding your rights. You use conflicting terms in your question so I am not sure exactly what has happened.

David L. Carrier

Agree with the two previous answers, and...#N#Q: "my brother who is executor of my mothers estate have right to sell her house"?#N#A: The job of the executor is to get the estate assets sold, pay the bills, pass out the money... so long as your brother isn't stealing, he's probably within his prerogatives as the executor...

2. Monitor the home

Keep an eye on the decedent’s home, answer phone messages, collect mail, discard food, and water plants. If you do not live near the decedent’s home, ask a friend or relative to handle this task. If necessary, change the locks. Don’t give away any personal property in this first week. Keep current all essential utilities like heat and electricity.

3. Notify close family and friends

Ask someone to contact others to tell them of the decedent’s passing. Find the decedent’s address book and look for their e-mail contacts. Send cards to those who do not use e-mail regularly.

4. Arrange for funeral and burial or cremation

Search the decedent’s papers to determine whether they have a prepaid funeral contract or burial plan. Ask a friend or family member to go with you to the mortuary. Decide how you will pay for the funeral and memorial service.

5. Prepare the funeral service

In some religious faiths, the funeral service occurs soon after death. Find any directions from the decedent in this regard. Our Personal Affairs and Funeral Arrangements Checklist, or a similar document, should provide you with this information. If there are no such directions, gather close family members and create an outline of the service.

6. Prepare an obituary

It will mean a lot to the family if you take the time to prepare an obituary well. Send the obituary to the local newspaper. If the decedent retired to another city and state, send the obituary to the newspaper there as well.

7. Order Death Certificates

Get at least 10 original death certificates. The funeral home will usually order these certificates for you. Executors need original death certificates to apply for admission of the Will in Probate Court, change the ownership of joint accounts, and obtain date of death values of investments for preparing the estate tax return.

8. Find Important Documents

Those documents include the Will, any Trust Agreement, the latest bank account statements, investment statements, deeds, birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree (if any), Social Security information, life insurance policies, certificates of title to vehicles and keys to the safe deposit box or home safe.