I am co-executor of my late step-father's estate along with my step-brother. It is now 18 months since my father died and my step-brother has continually delayed fulfiling his duties as executor of will. Probate has now been granted and my step-brother has agreed to the sale of our father's property (the only asset).
The will provides for the proceeds to be distributed equally between the four children of my mother and step-father. However, my step-brother wants the proceeds to go into a trust until such time as "all estate matters have been agreed upon". He refuses to clarify this statement and has enlisted his own solicitor to demand details of bank accounts, etc. which the solicitor handling probate has already provided.
My step-brother still refuses to distribute any proceeds of the sale of the house to the beneficiaries but will not make it clear to me why he is doing this. I know that there is little chance of having him removed as an executor, but is there any provision under law for fulfiling duties as an executor in a reasonable amount of time or for providing any co-executor/beneficiaries with the reason for not doing so?
The will provides for the proceeds to be distributed equally between the four children of my mother and step-father. However, my step-brother wants the proceeds to go into a trust until such time as "all estate matters have been agreed upon". He refuses to clarify this statement and has enlisted his own solicitor to demand details of bank accounts, etc. which the solicitor handling probate has already provided.
My step-brother still refuses to distribute any proceeds of the sale of the house to the beneficiaries but will not make it clear to me why he is doing this. I know that there is little chance of having him removed as an executor, but is there any provision under law for fulfiling duties as an executor in a reasonable amount of time or for providing any co-executor/beneficiaries with the reason for not doing so?