An executor is also responsible for dealing with the deceased's financial liabilities. This includes dealing with the income tax position of the deceased from the date of death to the end of the administration period, as well as any capital gains tax liability on the disposal of assets.
Administering an estate or trust can be a lengthy and complex process, often taking months or even years to complete. This responsibility may require a significant time commitment, which can be particularly challenging if you have a full-time job or other personal obligations.
Understanding the Deceased Estate 3-Year Rule The core premise of the 3-year rule is that if the deceased's estate is not claimed or administered within three years of their death, the state or governing body may step in and take control of the distribution and management of the assets.
This is because as a trustee, on behalf of a charity, you enter into contracts in your own name. If the contract is breached you may be held to be personally liable and your own personal assets may be at risk.
Liability when an executor makes a mistake Unfortunately, a genuine mistake can sometimes snowball into a much bigger and often expensive problem that can be very complicated to resolve. The executor of an estate can be held personally liable for a mistake that results in a loss to the estate.
When a property has to be sold it is wise to use a solicitor to complete that process. The executor has to wait for at least 6 months after a death before distributing the possessions and assets.
The timeline for distributing funds after probate depends largely on the complexity of the estate. For straightforward estates with minimal assets, such as a single bank account and no property, beneficiaries might receive their inheritance within six months.
How long after probate can funds be distributed in the UK? A Personal Representative, or executor, has 365 days in which to administer the estate of the deceased and to distribute their assets to the Beneficiaries. As complex estates can take longer than a year to wind up, this isn't a strict deadline.
If the concerns about the behaviour of the Executor still remain, you may be able to make an application to the Court to seek an Order for the current Executor to be removed.