Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in New Jersey

Inheritance held up by state for over a year?

My widowed mother passed in may 2004,no will was left. There is 6 children as heirs. My siblings wanted me to be executor. I had went to the probate office in Glouc. Co.,NJ Aug. 2004 filed papers. Then I was told I needed a bond, I could not be bonded so I had my lawyer go to court with me for this. The judge appoited him executor. There was $160,000.00 in stocks and bonds and no other assets ,these were withdrawn and put into an estate account in aug,2006. Her final debts total approx. 4,000.00- funeral expenses were already paid by children-tax papers were already filed. I keep asking the lawyer when this will be settled and he says the state is holding it up. I called today and asked his secretary'' who in the state is holding everything up so i could speak with them'' and she keeps telling me the lawyer is working on it. The lawyer had told me in june 2007 that it would be about 2-3 weeks and everything will be done. What agency handles this in Trenton? I called the probate office and they don't know.How can a probate office not know who handles wills in NJ when you have to go through them first? How can something this cut and dry take this long?


Asked on 9/10/07, 5:11 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jonathan Chester The Law Office of Jonathan S. Chester, Esq., LLC

Re: Inheritance held up by state for over a year?

Based on what you say, there is no reason for the delay. The "state" does not hold up the probate process, and there shouldn't be any estate or inheritance tax due that may otherwise hold up final distribution. Sounds to me like your lawyer is the cause of the trouble.

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Answered on 9/11/07, 9:44 am


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