Q: If there are two beneficiary's on a will, and one is also the executor, can said executor keep all the money?
My mother & I are two beneficiaries on my Grandparents Will, they passed, and the estate is ready to be closed, but she is saying since we were not allocated a set amount of money she can invest it all and keep it for herself. is this legal? can she make it so I get nothing since they didn't leave either of us a set sum?
A:
The executor has to follow the will. So it would depend on what the will said. It would be very strange for the will to not specify the share of the estate that each of you were to receive.
For example, wills commonly say something to the effect of: "to my children, but if my children do not survive me to my grandchildren." In that case your mom would be the only beneficiary, even though you were both technically named in the will.
To really answer this question an attorney would have to review the exact language in the will.
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