KJM Law
April 22nd, 2026
What Beneficiaries Should Do if Someone is Mismanaging an Estate
Even if you know that you’re one of the beneficiaries of a loved one’s estate, it can take several months (and sometimes even a year or more) to receive the assets that were left to you. But if the person managing the estate mishandles the assets within it, you could be waiting much longer.
When someone selects an executor (or the court appoints an administrator), that person has been chosen because they have the skillset to successfully manage an estate. Unfortunately, some executors and administrators mishandle estate assets, either intentionally or unintentionally.
As a beneficiary, you should know some of the warning signs that your loved one’s estate is being mismanaged:
- They Haven’t Filed an Inventory of Assets On Time
- You Aren’t Getting Updates
- You Suspect Self-Dealing of Estate Funds
- You Notice Conflicts of Interest
Estate mismanagement isn’t just about money. It’s also about disregarding the wishes of the decedent. If you think the executor or administrator of a decedent’s estate is mismanaging the assets within it, it’s easy to feel powerless. However, when you know what steps to take, you may be able to hold the executor accountable while preventing further loss.
