Three days after mailing the distribution checks, the belligerent beneficiary delivered one last gripe. Furthermore, the belligerent beneficiary delivered the gripe to my attorney. While still on instruction to refuse direct contact from beneficiaries, the attorney referred the gripe to me. The attorney informed me by email that the belligerent beneficiary had the following complaints:
1) The beneficiary didn’t understand why the distribution happened early: that distributing early was against probate protocols.
2) The beneficiary wanted to know why a final inventory and final accounting wasn’t provided along with the distribution.
3) Since the distribution happened without the knowledge of the beneficiary, the beneficiary felt slighted. …show more content…
The One Last Gripe and the Appropriate Response
The same day the attorney contacted me on August 12, 2013, I sent an email to the belligerent beneficiary. The email was firm, but fair in tone. The facts delivered in the email were as follows: 4) An email was sent to all beneficiaries, including yourself, discussing the reason for the early distribution and when the distribution would happen.
5) The distribution was only a partial distribution and didn’t break any probate protocols.
6) A final distribution won’t take place until a final inventory and final accounting receives approval. At that point, that’s when all the beneficiaries will receive the final inventory and final accounting.
7) All beneficiaries are still on a need-to-know basis, including you.
8) I informed the belligerent beneficiary to not respond to this email because nothing will change and nothing is up for debate.
9) Then I asked for patience as the estate is in the process of closing in a few short weeks.
So, after I sent the email, all was quiet. Apparently, the belligerent beneficiary thought the complaints received adequate answers and became satisfied with the distribution
1) The beneficiary didn’t understand why the distribution happened early: that distributing early was against probate protocols.
2) The beneficiary wanted to know why a final inventory and final accounting wasn’t provided along with the distribution.
3) Since the distribution happened without the knowledge of the beneficiary, the beneficiary felt slighted. …show more content…
The One Last Gripe and the Appropriate Response
The same day the attorney contacted me on August 12, 2013, I sent an email to the belligerent beneficiary. The email was firm, but fair in tone. The facts delivered in the email were as follows: 4) An email was sent to all beneficiaries, including yourself, discussing the reason for the early distribution and when the distribution would happen.
5) The distribution was only a partial distribution and didn’t break any probate protocols.
6) A final distribution won’t take place until a final inventory and final accounting receives approval. At that point, that’s when all the beneficiaries will receive the final inventory and final accounting.
7) All beneficiaries are still on a need-to-know basis, including you.
8) I informed the belligerent beneficiary to not respond to this email because nothing will change and nothing is up for debate.
9) Then I asked for patience as the estate is in the process of closing in a few short weeks.
So, after I sent the email, all was quiet. Apparently, the belligerent beneficiary thought the complaints received adequate answers and became satisfied with the distribution