Q: how long does someone have to file a will/estate in surrogate court? should they be taking/liquidating things?
Actually, my sister stole my Mom's latest paperwork out of house about 6 months ago, and is using an old will (I haven't seen it) which she says calls her executor, though circumstances are vastly different now. She hasn't filed the estate, lives in Kentucky, and took a bunch of my Mom's stuff when she went home. My concern is that she's going to be liquidating bank accounts, etc., and though they can afford a lawyer, I can't. I understand how just being conniving allows you to walk off with everything and ignore someone's wishes, but I hope it's not so.
A: There is no deadline to file a will. If the estate is in New York, you can check with the court to see if any estate was opened.
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