My Uncle Owes Me $70,000 And Won’t Call Me Back

The speaker and her husband are working to pay down a significant student loan debt, which has been reduced from $146,000 to $65,000. They are anticipating an inheritance from the speaker's father's estate, with each child expected to receive between $70,000 and $90,000. However, the estate settlement process has stalled due to the uncle, who is the executor, becoming unresponsive. The uncle has not communicated for about a year and a half, not responding to texts, emails, or calls, and lives in a different state. The speaker is growing increasingly frustrated, especially as the inheritance could eliminate their remaining debt. She has called him a handful of times over the past year, but not excessively, as she initially gave him the benefit of the doubt. Her father passed away in 2015, and the family's relationships on that side have been distant since his death. The house from the estate was sold a few years ago, but the executor uncle has gone completely silent. The speaker is questioning whether to involve authorities, as the situation is causing her significant distress. The conversation highlights the unusual length of time the estate has been open, with one speaker noting that 11 years is an excessive period for settlement. There's speculation that the uncle might have stolen the money or is withholding it because he believes the beneficiaries are too young to manage it. The speaker is encouraged to be more assertive in contacting her uncle, starting with direct calls demanding her money. The advice is to escalate the communication over the next 30 days, moving from polite requests to more insistent demands, regardless of the personal relationship. The urgency is amplified by their desire to move in August, contingent on being debt-free. The legal aspect of the situation is also discussed. While the uncle's inaction is a breach of his fiduciary duty as the estate executor, it's considered a civil matter, not theft, as the money was never in the speaker's name. Suing him is seen as a potential, but likely unproductive, option if he has no assets. The speaker is encouraged to seek closure on the situation, even if it means accepting that the money might be gone. The extreme delay in settling the estate is emphasized as abnormal and indicative of the executor failing his responsibilities. While there's a slim chance the uncle is holding onto the money, the stronger possibility is that he has spent it, potentially with some personal justification. The role of an estate executor is explained: they are legally obligated to carry out the terms of the will within a reasonable timeframe. For an estate that should have been settled much sooner, 11 years is considered far beyond reasonable. Heirs are entitled to regular reports from the executor on the estate's progress and expected payout. Failure to provide these reports can lead to legal action. The executor's personal opinions about the beneficiaries' financial acumen do not supersede the instructions in the will. Taking on the role of an executor is described as a difficult and often unpaid responsibility.