Estate laws and regulations are a means to get the information you need from a trustee
The passing of a relative often leads to a great deal of stress and grief for the family members who are left behind. Improper distribution of the assets of an estate by an estate trustee can further exacerbate the anxieties beneficiaries face in the aftermath of a loved one’s death.
If you believe that the trustee of an estate to which you are a beneficiary is not giving you what you are entitled to according to the will, you have the recourse to compel information from that trustee about the manner in which they are managing the estate through legal services.
A passing of accounts is a process that requires an estate trustee to disclose details of the estate accounts under their charge, and to explain expenditures, management of, and administration of the estate. This is a great tool to help reassure beneficiaries that they are receiving their just dues, and that the funds the trustee has reported as distributed to the beneficiaries were correctly remitted to the entitled parties.
A passing of accounts is done either voluntarily by the estate trustee or compelled by the courts. If the passing of accounts is compelled, the presiding Court has the power to look into any complaint by the beneficiaries. These include complaints of misconduct, neglect or default, on the part of a trustee, which affect the estate. (per 49(3) of the Estates Act) Always know that you have legal options available to you if you believe an estate trustee is not being forthcoming about their management of the estate.