Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Illinois

Re: Deceit on behalf of the Executor?

I'm afraid the information is unclear. You refer to "the trust" without telling anything about it. A million varieties are possible under the word "trust" so there's no automatic answer. Please give your understanding of the structure.

In general -- a beneficiary of a trust is entitled to a copy. As with many rights, to begin with you have to assert them (ask for a copy) and they may require court action to enforce.

If you are the beneficiary of an insurance policy, cashing it in & collecting the proceeds is between you and the insurance company. If you pay funeral bills you should then have a claim for reimbursement from the estate. Having an executor removed will not per se have any effect on who is trustee.

Re: Deceit on behalf of the Executor?

There is no requirement that you pay the funeral expenses. That is the responsibility of the trustee or executor if there is a probate, to pay from the residual estate. The insurance proceeds are yours as the beneficiary. It is outside the estate or trust. If you pay then you should file a claim against the executor for reimbursement.

Usually there is a will that "pours over" to the trust. I don't know if that is what you are referring to. In order to have an executor removed you must petitiion the court having jurisdiction of the probate and show cause as to why he or she shoulld be removed. That would have no effect on the trustee.