Handling an Estate and the Need For Impartiality

The loss of a family member or close friend is always going to be a difficult time. This will be particularly so if you find yourself in the position of having to sort out the deceased’s finances or deal with awkward relatives. If you have been appointed as executor (in a Will) or administrator following probate, which gives legal authority to wind up a deceased’s estate, there are legal duties to perform with personal financial risks if you get it wrong.

A Will might have excluded someone or failed to make adequate provision for persons with valid entitlements.  Having to face up to beneficiaries and others who think they should be a beneficiary, is likely to deteriorate relationships. It can be tempting to want to block them out or withhold information from them, leading to misunderstandings, distrust, and escalating into legal disputes.

Where no Will exists, there is the risk of failing to understand who is entitled to a share of an estate under the intestacy rules. This might mean overlooking a beneficiary.

Under these pressures, when addressing any claim against an estate, it is important to remain impartial. It can be invaluable to have an experienced legal professional to help provide a neutral approach and experience of dealing with the type of issues that can arise.

Anyone handing an estate has the right to appoint a solicitor at the cost of the estate.

Contact our Wills and Probate Lawyers in Sydney NSW

At Szabo & Associates Solicitors, we have many years of experience in administering the terms of a Will and assisting executors and administrators fulfil their duties. Please call us on 02 9281 5088 or complete the online contact form.