After a very stressful situation during my Moms last year of life and my sisters alienating me from her in the last 9 months, she died with my sister having the checkbook, monies after her death. I was local as Mom and I moved to FL together over 30 years ago. My sister had Mom name her son as beneficiary which I was alright with. Within 10 days of Moms death my sister came from MD via train (she can't fly due to size, disability in an electric chair and need for their specialized van while here). Her son came a few days ahead to hire the attorney they selected without conferring with me (mind you I was a 50/50 beneficiary of the estate with her). Also, her daughter coordinated a "memorial dinner" actually all the family left got together, drank and not a word was spoken about Mom. Her 2 children then began taking all her clothes, purses shoes to wherever my sister directed and as they had to leave by Monday basically threw much into the trash or hauled it away. The pieces left to specific people were given out some of the costs discussed somewhat (my sister wanted her train trip reimbursed and her sons travel by the estate).
The probate process went quickly as my sister wanted the money from the sale of the home ASAP. Once we received word that probate was complete my sister began telling me (through her son as she won't speak to me directly) who to show the house to which I did. We found a realtor I liked and I guess she liked. The amount the realtor suggested we list it for was eventually upped by my sister (she wants as much money as she can get) so we only had one looker. When the realtor dropped the price within a week the house sold. The price it sold for was more that I though we'd get for it so I was pleased. Then my sister makes the real estate agent who shares her % with another drop her % from 3% to 2% or she wouldn't sell. The real estate agent agreed and the house is sold with a closing date. The day after the sale I get a list from my nephew my sisters son for personal charges they want from the sale of what they are still calling the "estate". Had they read the papers I sent them they would have seen the probate finalized the distribution of the estate and also discharged my nephew as the executor. I called the probate attorney just to see if my assumption was correct that the time to ask for monies from the estate had long passed.
Their office personel said to ignore them but I'm afraid they will disrupt the closing proceedings as they (my sister and nephew) have already opened another account for the 3rd check to go for their personal expenses from the 50/50 sale. I cannot believe the greed and on top of that they are looking for money from my 50% to cover the cost to moved their furniture still in the home up North. Would I be better of just hiring a real estate attorney or should I just wait until close to closing (2 weeks or less) to inform the company of a request by them I have no intention of paying? BTW, the amount is around $1, 700. The cost to reimburse the realtor her 1% my sister cheater her pout of and the $700 for a "spray" done to the house they paid by my Moms checking account before we started the probate and the only person who benefited from the spray was my sister. I checked with a MD who said there was no risk of bacteria present as Mom hadn't been in the home for many weeks before she died and my sister arrived. So, I feel the money they want and the money I am paying out cancels the request they are making entirely to late and relate to mostly personal expenses.
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Also the Realtor will be very VERY unhappy as they have already lowered thier commission, if this deal doesn't go through & it gets placed back on the market, you all may find yourself internally redlined by the better & more experienced Realtors.
AS EXECUTOR, a person is allowed a certain amount per hour, to be dealing with all the stuff that goes along with selling a home and cleaning out a person's effects. My hubby was his father's and I did well over 200 hours of work on both dad's properties. Neither of us chose to take the $22 per hour for our work, deciding that family relationships were more important to us than any more money. My son, (who is an attorney) hit the wall & said we were more than entitled to the money. We still declined, he called us idiots and that was that. IF the son involved was the executor and did work on behalf of the estate, he is entitled to some payment, but that should have come before the completion of the probate. Do talk to a lawyer--one that specializes in the disbursement of wills and trusts. Good luck!
It sounds like your relationship with your sister is unsalvageable and after this is over, you will have no further contact. I would simply let all communications about money go through your attorney. I'm so sorry. Your sister sounds exactly like my sister, who refuses to speak to me, even though I have done ALL the caregiving.