When the executor goes silent.

By Moshe B. Newman, Attorney · Published June 2026

It is one of the most common and most frustrating situations in probate: a parent dies, one sibling is named executor (in Michigan, “personal representative”), and then the other beneficiaries hear nothing. No accounting, no answers, no distributions — just silence. If that’s where you are, you have rights, and there are concrete steps you can take.

What a personal representative owes you

A personal representative is a fiduciary. They must administer the estate for the benefit of the heirs and beneficiaries — not for themselves — and they owe duties to keep interested persons reasonably informed, to inventory the assets, to account, and to distribute the estate according to the will (or Michigan’s intestacy rules if there is no will). Silence and delay can themselves be breaches of those duties.

Steps when an executor goes quiet

1. Put your request in writing. Ask, in writing, for the inventory, an accounting, and a status update. Keep a copy. This creates a record and often breaks the logjam.
2. Check the probate file. Michigan probate filings are largely public. The court file shows what (if anything) the PR has actually filed — inventory, accountings, notices.
3. Petition the court. If the PR still won’t respond, the probate court can compel an inventory and accounting, order a status report, and supervise the administration.
4. Seek removal or surcharge if the silence reflects mismanagement, self-dealing, or waste.

“They’re taking forever” vs. an actual problem

Some delay is normal — estates have a built-in creditor-claim period and real administrative work, and a careful PR won’t distribute too early. But normal delay comes with communication. A PR who won’t answer reasonable questions, won’t account, or is making decisions that quietly benefit themselves is a different matter. The distinction is exactly what an initial review sorts out.

How we help beneficiaries

We represent beneficiaries who are being shut out and personal representatives who are doing the job right and need to defend against unfair attacks. Frequently a firm letter citing the PR’s duties and your rights restarts the flow of information; when it doesn’t, we ask the probate court to step in. Either way, you don’t have to keep waiting in the dark.

This article is general information about Michigan law, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes, deadlines, and dollar amounts change; figures current as of 2026. Deadlines in probate and trust disputes can be short and unforgiving — if you think you may have a claim, contact us promptly.

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