Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California
My grandmother passed away and I am the executor of her will. The two beneficiaries of the estate are siblings and have a contentious relationship, they have not spoken to each other in years. One beneficiary was primarily responsible for my grandmother's care and finances. Now the other beneficiary wants to see past bank statements from the last few years to make sure everything is "legit". Do I have to provide that past bank documentation to the beneficiary or are they only entitled to bank information since my grandmother's passing?
2 Answers from Attorneys
I assume that the trust was revocable up to your grandmother's death. That meant that your grandmother could do what she wanted with her money. You do not have to provide that information if that is true, but will have to provide information for the time that you were the trustee, which I would assume occurred when your grandmother died.
An attorney would have to review the trust declaration itself, to advise you fully.
You're not obligated to provide that information. Let the battling siblings spend money on their own lawyers. If this is an estate in probate, your duties begin only when you are appointed as executor by the court when the will is admitted to probate. If there's a trust, your duty to account for the acts of the trustee begins only when you become the trustee (or, perhaps, when you start managing your grandmother's assets during her lifetime, if you did that).
Related Questions & Answers
Looking for something else?
10,200 active attorneys ready to answer your legal questions today.
Featured Attorneys
Earn additional revenue and grow your business.
