What Rights Do Beneficiaries Have to See Information About an Estate?

When someone dies, their estate has to be administered by their personal representative. This is usually an executor, but if the person didn’t leave a valid Will (or if the Will did not appoint an executor) then the Administration of Estates Act 1925 sets out who can apply to be the personal representative of the estate instead.?

Personal representatives have a wide range of legal responsibilities. One of these is the task of keeping the estate accounts. This should include:?

·???????The full value of the estate.

·???????Any income the estate has received during the administration period.

·???????Full details of any debts the estate has.

·???????Any expenses incurred (including funeral costs, legal fees and tax payments).

·???????How the estate has been distributed.

·???????What each beneficiary is entitled to.

·???????All transactions carried out by the estate.

Who is entitled to see the estate accounts?

Estate accounts contain a great deal of information, much of which may be relatively sensitive. Unlike a Will, which becomes public record once it is submitted to the Probate Registry, not everyone has the right to see the estate accounts.

In fact...Read more