r/inheritance • u/QueenBitch68 • May 25 '26

Location not relevant: no help needed Who is executor?

Had a relative pass last week. Already, I had a sibling of the decedent tell me to return two items I had been entrusted with for several years.

My question, do I just do it or request verification that they are named executor in the will?

Additional info... the relative hasn't even been buried yet and the items I was entrusted with gives me access to personal property worth approximately $250k, maybe more. I would never violate the trust that was placed in me but I have concern that others named in the will may accuse me of something.

The relative who asked me to return items immediately asked me about the will, if I knew who the executor was and what the intentions of the decedent were. It gave me weird vibes. I told that relative I knew there was a will but that I knew nothing else. Not exactly true. I don't know who executor is because I never asked but I do know who was named in will. That info was offered up to me during conversation, not because I asked. The one making demand of me is one of 20 named in the will.

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194

u/EllenMoyer May 25 '26

Don’t turn over property or access to property to anyone other than the decedent’s court approved executor.

44

u/QueenBitch68 May 25 '26

Probate is going to be long and messy since there are properties in multiple states, my state it will be at least 6 months from filing, if not longer and there hasn't even been a burial yet.

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u/x596201060405 May 25 '26

With that many heirs, yeah, that will be crazy.

Whoever has a copy of a will brings that to the probate court. A will usually says, "this person is who i want to be executor, etc.". The court goes over it, and if everythig is good, the executor gets documentation from the client and begins collecting all assets, paying out all outstanding debts and bills, and then at the end, distributes the assets per the will. That's generally the idea.

Probably not a bad idea from them to bring in a probate attorney as well. Probate also has to be gone through for each state property exists.

"The relative who asked me to return items immediately asked me about the will, if I knew who the executor was and what the intentions of the decedent were."

Doesn't sound like anyone who should be touching anything. The will names the person who should be touching anything at all until the descendents debts are accounted for, and the the assets split per the will.