My mother died last week in the state of Florida. My aunt was named the executor of her estate in the will which has not yet been submitted to the probate court. My mother made my 17 year old daughter the beneficiary of her entire estate. I am the co-owner of the credit union account where her social security check gets deposited. I informed the credit union of her demise so that they could return the next SS check as I don't want to be associated with SS fraud. My aunt is very angry that I did that, that I had an obituary published in the local newspaper and that I went to the funeral home to claim the cremains. She has contested my possession of the cremains and so now the funeral home is refusing to release them due to the dispute. My aunt claims that I have no power or authority to do any of these things because even though I am next-of-kin, she is the executor of the estate. I am confused as to what my rights and responsibilities are in this matter.

Hello Marisapan:

In the world, there's what people SHOULD do... and then there's what they ACTUALLY do. They're not the same. In legal situations, some people need to be FORCED to do what they already SHOULD be doing.

I would hire an enforcer (lawyer).

excon