Legal advice on Executor deduction and estate tax

My grandfather passed away almost two years ago. His will pours a percentage of the estate into trust for me and my siblings. My brother and I have already reached the age of the first mandatory distribution. The estate's attorney does not answer our letters requesting a copy of estate tax returns to get proof of the size of the estate. It is not clear whether the executrix neglected to file on time (as she claimed on the telephone) or is deliberately refraining from providing existent returns to beneficiaries, but either way she has breached fiduciary duties. I understand that the estate's attorney represents the executrix and must answer to her, but does that mean he can ignore her breach of fiduciary duty? What must he do if the executrix tells him to ignore letters from the beneficiaries requesting documents that she is required to provide? Must he follow his client's orders to ignore them? Is he obligated to discontinue representing a client who is breaching her duty to the beneficiaries?

After reviewing the compensation schedule for a stock/cash only estate, I feel like we were over charged. The lawyer, who was a trial lawyer, charged the maximum allowable under FL law for fees and paying the Personal Representative. It is now going on 6 years and the estate is still open. The PR hired a firm to search for all outstanding assets. The firm charged 25% of found assets (all stock/cash) but the lawyer negotiated it to 12.5%. He then billed the estate the other 12.5% for litigating the search firms rate down. This was in addition to his 3% of the total estate. All total for a cash/stock estate the fees were $149,375 for lawyer and PR. Estate was $2.3 million.

sources it's much larger than he implied, shocked executor asked how I found out. 1) Is there a way to get documents without going to court? 2) Does ignoring my request constitute grounds for filing a complaint? 3) If so, how long must delay be? 4) Should/must court order be made before complaint? 5) What's the difference between a complete fiduciary accounting (he's also trustee) / formal supervised probate, including time from initial motion to report in hand, possible delay settling estate, cost, info provided by each.

before the final accounting for the estate is due? If I make disclaimer I'll need to file it within nine months of the death, and it must include details of what I'm disclaiming. The final accounting can't be prepared by then because final figures will not be available until the State of NJ processes the estate tax forms. Must the executor give me bank account numbers and the amounts in each if I request this before the final accounting is ready? If not, how do I handle the requirement for listing the assets to be disclaimed? Can I declare that I am disclaiming whatever accounts the decedent had, but I do not yet have a legal right to get specific information about account numbers and amounts?

If the executor of an estate is taking too long (i.e., 20 months and counting since date of death) to settle things (distribute assets, file tax return, etc.), is there anything that a beneficiary of the estate can do to force a settlement sooner ? To date, all non-probate assets have been distributed, all real property has been liquidated but the executor has not distributed the remaining assets nor filed the final papers Thank you

Registration and insurance have been paid on the vehicle until this past year, would now like to transfer title and register to wife. There was a will leaving all to wife , upon death to children. Died September 2009. Only property was house, which quit claim deed signed over to children within one month prior to death, recorded 3 mos later, and vehicle. Is probate court necessary for either vehicle or home? Appreciate your help.