Ona, FL Estate Planning Law Firms & Lawyers

It depends, 3 months to more than 10 years. There is no simple answer. Many more facts are needed. This information is only intended to give general information in response to an inquiry. It does not establish an attorney client relationship. This response is only based upon the limited facts presented and is merely intended to assist you in determining if you should contact an attorney to provide you with legal advice.

As executor, you are responsible for notifying all of your father's creditors and debtors of his death, collecting all of his assets and any money or goods owed to him, paying off all of his bills including end-of-life expenses and funeral expenses from the assets of the estate, determining and paying all taxes and estate taxes due also from assets in the estate, and then distributing the remaining assets according to the terms of his will. If your mother co-owned each of the accounts with your father, she is probably entitled to the money. If not, she will probably have to pay it back or accept it in exchange for something else she was bequeathed in the will. Most state grant surviving spouses a pre-set sum or percentage of an estate to help them pay bills, etc. until the estate is settled.

It is probably too late now, since your mother died in 2003, unless the estate is still open. When did you turn 18? If within the last 2 years you may have a claim for fraud. You need to talk with an attorney about the details.