In Independent Probate, My Lawyer Never Told Me to File an Inventory

[kala33171]

Texas

I am the independent administrator of my late husbands estate. He died intestate in 2009. I took my oath in Aug 2009 and received letters of administration. That was it. Nothing else from him except a bill. He is known to be a very good lawyer.

I called him to see if we had listed a tractor on our list of assets I provided at our first meeting and to set up a time to see him about selling some items to pay off property taxes of two years. When I get there he tells me first thing, that I never filed a complete inventory!

I know people make mistakes but isn't that why I am paying him? To lead me and show me what I'm supposed to do? This was a year and a half ago it should of been done. What will the court do now that so much time has lapsed?

[Mr. Knowitall]

We don't know what you retained him to do.

Are you stating that the estate is still open after two years? The court has never inquired about the status of the case or why you haven't been diligent about wrapping things up?

[kala33171]

I have never been notified of anything by him or the court. The lawyer was my late husbands lawyer. My husband was in the process of having his will redone, but the cancer went to his brain before he signed. The lawyer showed up 2 days before he passed, asked him 2 questions he was unable to answer, and said sorry, if he had a better day to call and they would be over.

After he died I went to his lawyer to see what needed to be done to handle his estate. He said that filing for Independent Administrator was the best bet, if I could get his 3 adult children from a previous marriage to sign a letter giving me full control. They all did, no problem.

My husband has a plumbing business that had money due, so I have been collecting and paying debts. Have all debts paid now, business and personal, except for the property taxes for 2 years that total close to $10,000.

That's when I contacted the lawyer to see what my next step was, if I was able to sell a piece of property to pay the taxes off so that I could be done, and to make sure that I had listed a tractor on list of assets. I thought that I was doing a great job of handleing the estate and that I was nearly done, until I met with the lawyer.

I just feel that if I have hired him to help me handle the estate, to show me what needs to be done and I have paid him for all services as he billed them, that he should be doing his part in telling me what needs to be done.
The lawyer told me that once the letters of administration were issued, that I would be able to do everything that my late husband could of done, I would be acting on his behalf. That was it. I just don't know if I should find another lawyer or not.