Executor Duties

[gumboot]

My father-in-law recently died and was a widower. He has three children, two daughters and a son. As the son lives a considerable distance from my father-in-law's home, my wife and her sister were appointed executors on the estate.

My wife has considerable time available to sort out the estate whilst her sister works in a very demanding job where she would find it difficult to get time off from her high profile job to visit banks, solicitors and the like during Monday to Friday to clear up the estate. My wife has already taken a key role in sorting out the paperwork with her sister's blessing.

What I'd like to know is how far can she take this situation? Would a bank or solicitor for example act on my wife's signature or say so alone if her sister was unable to attend these necessary venues? The brother is quite content to leave it in the hands of his sisters.

To date, the funeral has taken place and we're waiting for the undertakers bill. Either one or both of the girls will have to visit the bank to get them to release the funds to pay the bill.

Thank you.

[237SJ]

Your wife`s sister can renounce her role as executor but it has to be done before dealing with the affairs of the estate.

[bednobs]

firstly, who is named in the will/on the grant of probte as executor?

[ubasses]

Sister can apply to have her 'power reserved' which means she can just let your wife get on with it, but will retain Rights if she should become unhappy with they way it is being handled.

[ubasses]

Bednobs it says the 2 daughters are named Executors.

[bednobs]

it just seemed that it could be read tht the three of them have decided together the brother won't do anything, so i just wondered who was actually named

[gumboot]

Yes, as I said both daughters are named as Executors. My wife's sister is very amicable for my wife to deal with it all.

[tamborine]

3 of us were executors of mothers Will but youngest bruv dealt with all (without our formal consent). No objections raised from mums bank while bruv emptied it as 'costs'. The only input we had together was for probate & sale of property.

[tamborine]

Seems whoever holds the death certificate has carte blanch

[gumboot]

Thank you all for your help.

[Davemano]

Some years ago my relative was in a similar situation, and with there being joint executors in the similar manner as described by 237SJ and ubasses.

[Davemano]

should say - with there being joint executors it was dealt with in a similar way