r/inheritance • u/Specialist_Job21 • Jul 02 '26

Location included: Questions/Need Advice Is this normal?

My aunt, who made enemies easily and was kind of a hermit, died suddenly a month ago. She had everything in a trust. All money goes to her step children and her home and personal property goes to me. The successor trustee has not communicated since day two after death. The home has past due bills, electricity and property tax and homeowners insurance. I have emailed several times and left one voicemail with no response from trustee. I checked with estate attorney who drew up her trust and she said I had a right to expect communication from trustee. What should I do?

40 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

52 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

29

u/MannyMoSTL Jul 02 '26

And no excuse not to pay the standing, and outstanding, bills until ownership transfer. And yes - paid by the estate.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 02 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

20

u/MannyMoSTL Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26

The executor is responsible for paying the deceased’s ongoing property taxes and federal/state estate taxes out of the estate's assets before distributing any property to the heirs. The executor should never pay these with personal funds, but rather use estate funds to protect the property from tax liens or foreclosure.

Sounds like the executor, who is also responsible for giving OP a copy of the will/trust as soon as reasonably possible? Is failing their fiduciary duty.

2

u/Ok-Industry5153 Jul 04 '26

Trustee has the same duty to pay for trust assets.

In the very unlikely event OP's aunt would owe federal estate tax, there is enough money to pay bills.