Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in New York

travel expenses - reimburseable by the estate?

I am the executor of my fathers estate. One of the ''how to be an executor'' books I read says the travel expenses of close family members to the funeral are reimburseable by the estate. I have not found confirmation anyplace else. As I am out over $600 for my daughters travel, I would like the estate to pay these expenses. I would also then repay the expenses incurred by my nieces and nephews. All help appreciated. Thans/Ron


Asked on 7/19/01, 4:30 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Garry Hanlon

Re: travel expenses - reimburseable by the estate?

There are two schools of thought on this

issue: one is that the same are part

of the necessary expenses of the funeral and

thus payable by the estate. The other is

that, absent a specific direction in the

will, they are not.

The best course of action is to set this

money aside until the final accounting.

Include the expense as one in the accounting

If all beneficiaries agree to the accounting

then you can make the distribution

Make sure an attorney with both a tax and

accounting background is involved because

there are also tax ramifications to be

addressed

Read more
Answered on 7/23/01, 8:06 am


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