- Jurisdiction
- New Hampshire
Quick background wife's mother died 4 years ago and the step father died 2 years ago. Her mother's will said her husband would be Executor but if dececeasd, my wife would be. He never did anything with her accounts, and did not begin probate mainly because he was sick. His stepdaughter, who was suppose to executor for his estate, but eventually the court took that away from her, She lived with him and controlled everything, but did nothing with either will or estate, which created a litany of problems. Wifes side was completely kept out of the loop.
Now that the step fathers estate has been opened and getting close to being closed, my wife got stuck being executor for her mother's estate. We understand that all money from her mother's estate will go into step father's estate, which she is a beneficiary of.
We are in NY, in laws lived in NH, and we just let the same lawyer that's handling step fathers estate, handle the mothers.
Her mother's estate is fairly small, $50k from stock, and a few other accounts wife is searching for. The $50k is finally in the estate bank account that wife recently opened. Wife already spent about $3k on lawyers fees and bond prior to selling her mother's stock and opening the estate account. This $3k was paid with our credit card. I assumed once the estate account was opened and had funds in it, wife can reimburse herself for the fees paid so far and upcoming bills from the lawyer too. Apparently, she needs court permission to be reimbursed and can't pay the current lawyer's fees from this account? This makes no sense. Since we paid upfront with a credit card, can we be reimbursed for any credit card interest too?
Essentially she got forced into being executor, had to shell out out-of-pocket money, and has to pay more upcoming fees out-of-pocket fees.
This sound ridiculous.
Right now, we are looking for advice on the quickest way to be reimbursed?
Also, how much can she bill her mother's estate for her own time handling all this?
Thank in advance.
Now that the step fathers estate has been opened and getting close to being closed, my wife got stuck being executor for her mother's estate. We understand that all money from her mother's estate will go into step father's estate, which she is a beneficiary of.
We are in NY, in laws lived in NH, and we just let the same lawyer that's handling step fathers estate, handle the mothers.
Her mother's estate is fairly small, $50k from stock, and a few other accounts wife is searching for. The $50k is finally in the estate bank account that wife recently opened. Wife already spent about $3k on lawyers fees and bond prior to selling her mother's stock and opening the estate account. This $3k was paid with our credit card. I assumed once the estate account was opened and had funds in it, wife can reimburse herself for the fees paid so far and upcoming bills from the lawyer too. Apparently, she needs court permission to be reimbursed and can't pay the current lawyer's fees from this account? This makes no sense. Since we paid upfront with a credit card, can we be reimbursed for any credit card interest too?
Essentially she got forced into being executor, had to shell out out-of-pocket money, and has to pay more upcoming fees out-of-pocket fees.
This sound ridiculous.
Right now, we are looking for advice on the quickest way to be reimbursed?
Also, how much can she bill her mother's estate for her own time handling all this?
Thank in advance.