Skip to Content

We are a Veteran Owned Business, providing 20% discounts for Veterans, First Responders, Elementary and High School teachers. Please contact us to set up a phone or Zoom meeting. Taking care of you and your family, It's What We Do!

How to File a Formal Accounting to Bring The Estate to an End

Posted on Wed May 13, 2015, on Formal Accounting

From our “Ask a Question” Mailbag: Formal Accounting Process to Close Estates

Most Recently Updated July 15, 2018.

Filing a Formal Accounting

Probate Attorney, Tatyana Gleyzer.

 

“I have served as the Executor for my mother’s Delaware County estate for over a year and wish to close the estate, but my brother claims that I have embezzled money from the estate. This is ridiculous, but how can I close the estate while he makes these claims?”

Formal Accounting Process to Close Estates

It is unfortunate that your brother is making these claims, but there is a forum available to you that will allow you to bring the estate to a close.

As the executor, you could make an “at risk” distribution of the estate assets. This means you distribute the money without getting a release. This is not advisable, as your brother could then use his inheritance to hire a Orphans’ Court Lawyer to force you to file a Formal Account. Because you would have distributed the estate funds, this cost would come out of your pocket.

Instead, you have the legal right to retain your own Delaware County Orphans’ Court Attorney to help you assemble and file a Formal Accounting. The costs related to this are a normal cost of an estate and paid out of the estate’s funds.

Your brother is then free to object to your accounting. If you cannot satisfy his objections, you will get a hearing in front of the Delaware County Orphans’ Court judge who renders a decision. Either way, you are then done and released.

For more information, see my website about Closing an Estate.

More Probate Questions?

Filing an accounting is only part of the overall probate process. By all means, if you wish to learn more, please read my more detailed article, The Probate Process All You Need to Know.

In Conclusion: Formal Accounting Process to Close Estates

I hope that this article was helpful in explaining how to close an estate. Further, I included links to even more detailed information on my website. Therefore, please contact me and let me know how I did. Certainly, your comments and questions are welcome!

Let our Probate Lawyers help walk you through what can be a confusing process. To begin with, call to speak to one of our experienced Probate Attorneys.  By all means, our lawyers are ready to answer your questions. In fact, feel free to contact our office for a free consultation. Ultimately our goal is to make the process as painless as possible!

Wills, Trusts, Probate, and Estate Litigation, It’s All We Do

Author, Peter Klenk, Esq.

Tags:

Closing, Delaware County, Formal Accounting, Pennsylvania, Probate, Probate Attorney, Probate Lawyer, Tatyana Gleyzer

Peter KlenkPeter Klenk

What Our clients are saying

Klenk Law Logo
Stars

Chantee C.

Peter recently gave a presentation about Wills & Trusts at my employer, and it was fantastic! He was extremely knowledgeable and provided valuable information to the group. People were very engaged and asked several questions, all of which Peter thoroughly answered. Personally, my husband and I have selected Peter to help us with our estate planning, and he has been very helpful in providing us with all of the information we need to provide a secure future for our family. Thank you, Peter!

Klenk Law Logo
Stars

MJG

Affable...yet surprisingly cerebral estate planning atty. High marks all the way around.

Klenk Law Logo
Stars

Susan W.

Tremendous firm with bright, kind and tenacious people. Great representation for our family.

Klenk Law Logo
Stars

Anita R.

Peter came highly recommended by a close friend to do our estate planning. We have been putting off for years. He is knowledgeable, professional and easy to work with.

Klenk Law Logo
Stars

Michael Patete

Surprisingly easy

Let us put our expertise to work for you.

Free consultation within 24 hours.