If you are not satisfied with the Personal Representative of an estate in which you have an interest, there is something you can do about it so long as you have “cause” for your concern – simply disliking the person or thinking they might be unfair in the future is not enough. Under South Carolina law, a Personal Representative can be removed or restrained by a Petition of anyone with an interest in the estate (this generally means you are an heir under the laws of intestacy, a devisee under the will, or a creditor of the decedent). In order to succeed in this action, you must be able to show the Probate Court that there is legal cause for the restraint or removal. A good probate attorney can listen to the facts and determine if cause exists.
The S. C. Probate Code defines cause as follows: “Cause for removal exists when removal would be in the best interests of the estate, or if it is shown that a personal representative or the person seeking his appointment intentionally misrepresented material facts in the proceedings leading to his appointment, or that the personal representative has disregarded an order of the court, has become incapable of discharging the duties of his office, or has mismanaged the estate or failed to perform any duty pertaining to the office.”
This blog contains several posts that discuss the duties of a Personal Representative and more will follow. Reviewing these duties may help you determine if the Personal Representative has violated them in some way. During my years as the Probate Court Judge, I heard hundreds of actions to remove a Personal Representative.
Below are examples of scenarios where I found that cause DID exist:
- Personal Representative commingled funds by putting all of the estate money in his/her bank account with no records to separate the two.
- In disbursing the personal effects, Personal Representative (also an heir), gave herself the first choice of all items and refused to inventory or appraise items to ensure the distribution was fair.
- After multiple written requests, Personal Representative continued to fail to inventory the assets of the estate or provide information to the heirs.
- Personal Representative filed paperwork with the court indicating there were only three (3) heirs of the estate. Testimony was presented that proved she was aware of two (2) additional heirs whom she did not get along with.
- Personal Representative donated all decedent’s personal effects to Goodwill without providing interested parties an opportunity to receive items of sentimental value.
- Personal Representative hired her own husband as an attorney for the estate and paid him fees significantly above the standard and reasonable fees for his services.
- Personal Representative falsified the Information to Heirs and Devisees form to the court and attempting to keep the administration of the estate a secret from others.
These are obviously just a few examples. Unfortunately, Personal Representatives often misinterpret their “power” to mean that they are the boss of the estate when in essence they are serving as an employee to all interested parties. Sometimes, a simple written letter from an interested party will get the Personal Representative back on track. Other times, more extreme measures are necessary.
If you have an interest in an estate and feel the Personal Representative is not performing his/her duties as required, consider consulting with an attorney on whether he/she might be restrained or removed. To be successful in the courtroom, legal representation is almost always necessary.
