My father-in-law’s great aunt died a few weeks ago and he is named as executor of the will. My father-in-law lives in Charlotte, N.C. and his aunt’s estate is in Memphis, Tenn.
He think parts of the will might be contested by other family members. He said he will have to drive to Memphis and would stay there for months until the will is settled.
I have never dealt with a will and there is an estate attorney handling the case. However, it does seem to me that my father-in-law is over-reacting. I can see making a few trips to Memphis to settle this matter, but not needing to stay there for months.
There is a brief flurry of activity immediately after the death, lasting a week or two. Then, like any other legal process, there are months of inactivity puctuated by occasional rush-rush deadlines. After 6 to 18 months, depending on court backlog, yuo get a final answer. Unless folks want to fight about it; then it’ll take until they, or the estate, run out of money or patience.
Having said that, if the situation is such that the local family intends to loot the decedant’s household, carrying off most of the goods, which in turn constitute most of the estate, well then somebody needs to prevent that. Changing the locks on her doors is not uncommon. But staying there is doing it the hard way.
My expertise you ask? Been an executor twice, been heir a few more times, married to a wills, trusts & probate attorney. Never anywhere near the Carolinas, but state to state variations tend to be details not affecting the big picture.