Executors and accounts?

Does an executor of a will have the right to cross examine a family on the withdrawals out of an account for the last six months prior to our fathers death?A friend of our father was made executor.Our father thought that this would help us having someone else getting his affairs in order when he died.This is not the case. Should we be answering these questions?He told us he has an entiltment being executor to ask as many questions about our fathers account up to a year after our fathers death.Three months have passed and we are worn out with questions.Any advise would be greatfully appreciated.

I would say that, technically, the executor is only entitled to look at the estate as at date of death and from then on BUT if he is on notice that there were extraordinary movements on the account, in the months leading up to the death, such as would give rise to a presumption that someone was "stealing" and, if this has the effect of reducing the estate, and the monies available to beneficiaries, then that changes the picture.

Much depends on the size and complexity of the estate. And perhaps the intrusive nature of unnecesary enquiries ( some executors can lose the run of themselves).

As with most things, it depends.

mf