A will beneficiary in New Jersey is notified after the will is probated, which cannot occur until ten days after death, and the executor must send a Notice of Probate within 60 days. That notice explains when and where the will was probated and informs beneficiaries of their right to receive a copy of the will.
It is actually very common for a person to have a friend or relative pass away and, although they may be aware that the deceased had provided for them in their will, they may not know what to expect as far as what they will receive from the decedent’s estate or when they will receive it. So, when is the beneficiary under a Last Will and Testament notified of such things?
Demystifying Probate in New Jersey: Understanding Beneficiaries’ Rights and Responsibilities
To start off the administration of any New Jersey estate, the decedent’s will must be probated. The will though, cannot be submitted for probate until ten days after the decedent’s death. Once the will is submitted and administration of the estate has been initiated, the will must be proven valid and a personal representative, also known as an “executor,” of the estate will be appointed.
How and When Beneficiaries Receive Notice
County Surrogate Courts in New Jersey handle probate proceedings and once the will is probated, the personal representative of the estate is tasked with sending notice to the decedent’s next of kin and each beneficiary as to the particulars of the probate process – when and where the will was probated. This notice known as ‘Notice of Probate’ must be sent within 60 days and must also inform the beneficiaries that they are entitled to receive a copy of the probated will.
Why a Copy of the Will Doesn’t Answer Every Question
Even with a copy of the will, beneficiaries are often unfamiliar or uninformed as to the nature and extent of the decedent’s estate and what it is comprised of. You see, you may read that you have been provided for in a decedent’s will, but still not know what you will be getting from the estate.
In some cases, either willfully or simply because they do not take the time to address your questions, a personal representative of the estate may not give you any more details beyond those that which is contained in the will.
The executor often needs time to determine what assets the decedent possessed at the time of his or her death.
When Beneficiaries Can Demand an Inventory and Appraisal
Of course, as a beneficiary, New Jersey law gives you the right to compel both an inventory and appraisal of the estate’s assets three months after the will has been probated. While informative, this inventory will only include probate assets of the estate.
Ensuring Accountability: Beneficiaries’ Rights to Demand Estate Accounting in New Jersey
To find out even more information, a beneficiary has the right, after a year from the will being probated has passed, to demand an accounting of each transaction the personal representative has entered into on the estate’s behalf. This accounting can either be formal or informal. A formal accounting is filed with the Surrogate court and subject to an audit. It will also be subject to judicial approval. An informal accounting, on the other hand, is not filed with the court.
Hopefully, you, as a beneficiary, have the benefit of working with a forthcoming personal representative that will help answer your questions as best as possible. Oftentimes, personal representatives are proficient at their jobs and the estate is administered without issue. Other times, however, a personal representative may be ill equipped to handle their duties and their conduct may warrant removal from their position.
This may be merited in situations such as one where the personal representative refuses to file an inventory or accounting upon being ordered by the court, among other circumstances. Should the situation merit it, a personal representative can be removed by the court and a new personal representative will be appointed.
Estate Planning Attorney
Problems in probate? We are here to help. You can count on the team at E.A. Goodman Law to help you throughout probate proceedings. Contact us today.
Posted in: Estate Planning