How to contest an executor of a family Will?
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How to contest an executor of a family Will?
My mother passed away recently. There are 8 children, 1 of whom is a lawyer who has been named
executor. Can I contest this because he is a family member? What are my options?
Asked on January 29, 2018 under Estate Planning, New York
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
You can only contest the appointment of an executor if you can show that force, threats, coercion, deception or other improper means were used to get the testator (person making the will) to appoint this person as executor; or if you can show that the executor violates his fiduciary duty (duty of loyalty and of using reasonable care) to the estate or the beneficiaries, such as by diverting money or assets to himself or his family or friends, or being negligent in how he handles the responsibilities, or not honoring the instructions in the will. That he is a family member is NOT grounds to challenge his appointment: executors are very commonly family members (I was, for my father, for example) and there is no legal bar on a family member serving as executor. You have have to show wrongdoing in his appointment or by him as executor to successfully challenge.
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