Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California

Re: Probate ethics

It may not be precisely unethical but it is at least questionable and must be disclosed in the final accounting and petition for distribution. It is very possible that the judge will reduce the executor's fee, the executor's share of the estate, or the realtor's commission because of the conflict of interest.

One or more of the beneficiaries are entitled to object to the petition and accounting disclosing this transaction; and they are also entitled to object if the final petition fails to disclose the transaction.

This sort of thing suggests that the executor is either inexperienced with probate and isn't getting good advice, or is not an honest person.