What Happens If an Executor Refuses to Follow the Wishes of The Decedent in The Will?

A will lays out the particular plan for how a person’s assets and liabilities should be addressed when they pass away. An executor gets appointed, also known as a personal representative in some states, to handle this process known as probate or estate administration.

If you are a beneficiary of an estate, or you are an heir to a loved one who recently passed away, you might have concerns about executors who fail to follow the decedent’s wishes. Your options for moving forward all depend on your personal resources and the possible funds at stake.

If you can afford to do so and if the assets inside the estate are worth it, hiring an experienced probate lawyer to evaluate this matter can assist you in filing the proper paperwork in court. You should always balance this with the possible upside and the possible downsides of spending time going through a legal process. Because there are so many different things to consider in this process, it is valuable to have the support of an experienced probate lawyer.

When you create your will with the help of an estate planning attorney, you do so with your underlying goals in mind and clarity on what to anticipate. You can make things easier for your loved ones by discussing some of your estate plans with them so they know or at least have a general sense of your wishes.

Contact a Virginia Beach estate planning lawyer today to learn more.