SIL not letting her siblings see their father's will

[Crabbyoldgrandma]

MIL died, BIL is sole executor, he was the only one living near him. Siblings are instructed by him to help with getting her estate ready for probate etc but they have no idea what the will says. Surely it is permissible to share the will's contents contents with his siblings?

Seems extraordinary to me. I have been an executor twice (jointly with a sibling). It wouldn’t have occurred to us not to tell the other beneficiaries what the will said.

My suspicion would be that the will benefits him more than his siblings and he doesn't want to reveal that, as he needs help sorting the house.
Or he could be a control freak, it's all equal but wants them to keep guessing.
My bet is on the first scenario though.
Do you think it's possible that your FIL favoured the sibling living closer? Did they do more/had a closer relationship?
An executor has no obligation to share details of the will. Anyone can get a copy of probate (once it's been granted) for a small fee.

No way would I be helping unless I could see the will. I don't understand why people behave like this, it looks as suspicious AF, pisses everyone off and if they are honest it creates unnecessary tension.

Siblings are instructed by him to help with getting her estate ready for probate etc

What is he instructing them to do? Are they doing all the donkey work whilst he gets all the money?

your husband’s mother entrusted his brother to over see her inheritance. So unless you think your mother was lacking capacity when she made the decision to make him the executor, then she’ll have had her reason to trust him. And perhaps he knows his siblings and their behaviour hence wanting to deal with the inheritance without bitching and arguing

For me, this would be

thank you BIL. We will visit on x day and help. Is there any items specifically mentioned in the will we should leave?

or

thank you BIL. We are unable to travel and help. there will be various local companies who can assist. We would like to keep x if possible?

And the type of person you are - the MiL would have probably selected you to be her executor going by this balanced response

I don’t think the contents of the will would impact my response. His request is just that. Either do or don’t.