Q: Can money from an estate be distributed to heirs/legatee before it is closed?
The life insurance policy was outdated and my father who passed away was the named beneficiary. It went into my mother’s estate. All creditors and debts have been paid and the only thing pending is selling the house.Can the money be distributed before selling the house?
A: Partial early distributions are permitted, but not required, so long as the estate is otherwise solvent an can pay all administrative expenses, fees and debts of the estate. An heir, however, is not entitled to an early distribution, and there is no basis to compel the PR to make an early partial distribution before the final accounting. If the PR is unreasonably and unjustifiably dilatory in performing their duties then you may petition the court for relief, including removal of the PR and appointment of someone else to move the estate along.
Cedulie Renee Laumann agrees with this answer
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