Property maintenance costs to an estate during probate

okstring43

My mother died leaving her house and estate equally to her children who are going through probate. 
Acceptable costs to the estate include property maintenance:  there is a long retaining wall at the front of the property that is leaning badly (with some significant cracks) towards the adjoining pavement. 
Does anyone know if we can have this wall repaired/rebuilt with the cost to be paid for by the estate if all parties agree? Or is there a specific definition as to what is acceptable maintenance costs?

p00hsticks

I can't see that it'd a problem if all the beneficaries agree. 
What's going to happen to the property once probate's been obtained ?

okstring43

possibly being kept within the family

turnitround

I would imagine that if all agree then that's fine. But, if it was a case of one family member buying the others out or one family member living in the house then I could understand why others would not want to contribute from their slice of the estate

Marcon

okstring43 said:

My mother died leaving her house and estate equally to her children who are going through probate. 
Acceptable costs to the estate include property maintenance:  there is a long retaining wall at the front of the property that is leaning badly (with some significant cracks) towards the adjoining pavement. 
Does anyone know if we can have this wall repaired/rebuilt with the cost to be paid for by the estate if all parties agree? Or is there a specific definition as to what is acceptable maintenance costs?

It's for the executors to decide how best to maximise the value of the estate to the beneficiaries, so there's a fair amount of freedom. If the work is essential in the immediate term to stop the house falling down (or partially collapsing), then there's a strong argument that having the work done would be to the benefit of all. 

boingy

I'd suggest you should only do essential maintenance. If that retaining wall is newly leaning and likely to collapse in the next six months then fix it. Otherwise leave it for the new owners of the house. But it is the executor's decision, nothing to do with the beneficiaries.