(Long time lurker/reader, and first time poster. Please be patient with me)
I am the sole executor of DF estate, with sib and I being the only beneficiaries. Sib and I have always had a problematic relationship, and there is a long backstory regarding the estate. In summary though, sib had wanted to postpone the sale of the family home for possibly several years to fit in with their plans (neither of us have lived there for 30+ years), so was furious that as executor I took the decision to sell.
The executor’s year is now over, and property is long gone. I sent the final estate accounts to them to sign off three months ago, with reminder letter/email a month ago, but they have not returned them, or indeed made any contact at all. I had already made several interim payments to the both of us, and have said that the balance of their monies (about 20%) will be forwarded to them once the estate accounts are signed off.
Am very worried about the radio silence from sib, and what might happen next, and whether I need to take further legal advice/apply to the court. I understand that it is not a legal requirement to have beneficiaries sign off accounts but that it is recommended to head off potential challenges in the future. On this basis, any advice would be gratefully received about what kind of legal protection is offered in practice by having these accounts signed off. Or, how exposed am I leaving myself if I pay out the remainder of the monies without them signing off? I don’t believe they have any kind of grounds for a legal challenge, but that might not stop them. They have promised revenge of some non-specific kind (to paraphrase), so would I be stupid to proceed without their signature?
What kind of timescale do I have as executor to pay out the monies, when I am trying to contact them and they are not replying? Am I failing as executor if it drags on indefinitely, and then ironically am I giving them grounds to sue me for not releasing funds? And, if I am forced to take legal advice about this, can I deduct the whole cost of this from the sib’s monies?
I really want to bring this matter to an end, so am tempted to just release the final monies and hope them not signing is just a pathetic attempt to assume control, but after a couple of years of horrible behaviour from them, I want to be able to know there will be no comeback or further contact.