Avoca, TX Estate Planning Law Firms & Lawyers

The brother has taken the appropriate action, filing an action to remove the sister who is not properly executing her duties. Theis will not cause the removal of the co-executor.

I assume you mean as the personal representative or Executor. If so, it depends upon the state's rules. Some states yes; some no. If your father is alive, your father may sign a durable power of attorney appointing you as his agent to handle financial matters. He also could put you on title of his accounts or draft a trust, transfer his assets to the trust while also appointing you as trustee.

Perhaps you could file an action in court and ask a court to order the remains to be turned over to you. Not sure of the legal theory. The fact that you paid the funeral bill doesn't give you a right to the remains. Your grandmother (her mother) is a "next of kin", just like you (as a child) - at least under the laws of intestacy in Michigan. So she may have a right to the remains - on an equal footing to yours. Perhaps a judge will be willing to play Solomon and divide the ashes amongst the next of kin.