There is no specific legal requirement for an Executor to disclose a Will or its terms to anyone who asks for this. However, as a Beneficiary, you can ask for disclosure of the contents and to be supplied with a copy of the Will.
Can an executor get a copy of the will?
Only the executors appointed in a will are entitled to see the will before probate is granted. If you are not an executor, the solicitors of the person who has died or the person’s bank, if it has the will, cannot allow you to see it or send you a copy of it, unless the executors agree.
Can a beneficiary question the executor of an estate?
Technically, the executor works for the beneficiaries. The executor of an estate — regardless whether it is a family member, friend or the deceased’s attorney — has a fiduciary duty to the beneficiaries to manage the estate in a way that promotes the best interests of the beneficiaries.
Can a beneficiary request a copy of an estate account?
We are often contacted by beneficiaries who have requested a copy of estate accounts from an executor only to be told they are not entitled to see them. It is clearly a common problem, so what is the legal position? Well, it’s good news for beneficiaries.
What do beneficiaries want in a will or estate?
Beneficiaries usually want to know how much money they are going to receive or be able to identify their interest in an estate. In some cases, they may want information in relation to the overall assets and liabilities of the estate.
What happens if a beneficiary is not given a copy of the will?
The beneficiary has not been provided with a copy of the Will and does not know what they are entitled to; and The beneficiary is not being provided with information in relation to the asset and liability position of the estate and is being “kept in the dark” when it comes to information in relation to the estate and its administration.
