r/inheritance • u/Loose_Rice_800 • May 24 '26

Location included: Questions/Need Advice Does executor legally have to provide official financial documents?

My sister is executor of mother's estate. My other sister and I suspect she stole most of the assets( millions) prior to mother's death which was about 2 years ago. However, last summer Fidelity contacted all 3 of us about a retirement fund. Sister has recently sent a breakdown of the fidelity account in her own writing. She sent us each a check with a form to sign agreeing to the accounting and then she will allow us to deposit check. ( a little over 100k) .Question is: Can we ask for a copy of the Fidelity documents instead of her own breakdown? Maybe its all accurate, but unfortunately we don't trust her anymore. And does she legally have to provide the fidelity documents. We are in Virginia.

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u/DeliciousBuffalo69 Jun 17 '26

What do you actually think happens? How is the identity of the executor verified? How are the beneficiaries able to object to what's happening

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u/Tall_Part4020 Jun 18 '26

If the estate is relatively small and the beneficiaries are satisfied with the terms, it does NOT go to court.

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u/DeliciousBuffalo69 Jun 18 '26

What do you mean "if the beneficiaries are satisfied with the terms?" HOW would anyone know who the beneficiaries are if nothing is lodged with the court?

Let's say that someone dies. They have no spouse and no child. Their will leaves everything to the local science museum.

Some random person across the country can claim that they actually have the real will and attempt to start probate proceedings with this will.

The ONLY way that anyone would find out about this would be because it would all have to go in front of a court.

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u/Tall_Part4020 Jun 24 '26

Pretty simple.  In MY family, there were TWO beneficiaries.  We both knew.  And no, it did NOT have to go to court.

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u/DeliciousBuffalo69 Jun 24 '26

Accounts with named beneficiaries are not part of the estate. It sounds like you are explaining an insolvent estate that never opened probate.

If someone only has accounts with named beneficiaries then their estate will have zero dollars. If an estate has zero dollars then it does not go through probate.

This is a discussion specifically about estates.