Estate Disputes
Executor Removal & Trustee Removal
Resolving conflicts over estate administration, executor misconduct, and beneficiary rights
When probate becomes a battleground, you need a firm built for trial.
Probate is supposed to be a process - not a fight. But when family members clash, executors hide information, or assets begin to disappear, probate court quickly becomes a courtroom war zone.
That is when you need more than a probate attorney. You need an estate litigation firm that knows how to expose misconduct, enforce the law, and protect your inheritance. I regularly work along side probate administration attorneys where I handle the court conflicts.
Our focus is clear: we litigate probate disputes, fiduciary abuse, and inheritance conflicts across North Carolina. Led by Kirk Sanders, an experienced estate litigation attorney, we represent heirs, beneficiaries, and fiduciaries who are drawn into high-conflict probate cases - and we do not back down.
Understanding Probate
What Is a Probate Dispute?
A probate dispute arises when someone challenges how an estate is being administered or who should control it. These cases are not paperwork problems - they are legal conflicts over money, authority, and accountability.
Common probate conflicts include:
- Executors refusing to provide information
- Missing or concealed estate assets
- Conflicting or suspicious wills
- Delayed distributions with no explanation
- Heirs being excluded or silenced
Our Practice Areas
Types of Probate Disputes We Litigate
Executor Misconduct
- Failure to file inventories or accountings
- Self-dealing or conflicts of interest
- Misuse or theft of estate property
Will Contests During Probate
- Challenges to the validity of the will
- Disputes over competing wills
Removal of Executors
- Court actions to replace unfit or dishonest personal representatives
Asset Recovery
- Litigation to claw back property transferred before or during probate
Inheritance Conflicts
- Fights between heirs over distribution, valuation, or concealment of assets
Red Flags
Warning Signs Something Is Wrong
You may have a probate dispute if:
You have been denied access to estate records
Deadlines are being ignored without explanation
You suspect assets are missing
You were cut out of communication entirely
The executor treats estate property like their own
Self Assessment
Questions to Ask Yourself
- 1
Has the executor refused to provide a full accounting?
- 2
Do estate numbers not match what you know existed?
- 3
Are distributions delayed without reason?
- 4
Has anyone benefited personally from estate assets?
If you are asking these questions, probate litigation may be necessary.
Legal Framework
Legal Grounds for Challenging Probate Misconduct
These cases often involve:
Breach of Fiduciary Duty
When executors or trustees violate their legal obligations to act in the best interests of beneficiaries
Conversion or Embezzlement
Misappropriation or theft of estate assets by those entrusted with managing them
Undue Influence or Lack of Capacity
Documents signed under coercion or when the decedent lacked mental capacity
Fraud or Forgery
Falsified documents, forged signatures, or intentional deception in estate matters
Estate Misadministration
Improper handling of estate affairs, including failure to follow legal procedures
These are not issues resolved with form letters. They demand discovery, subpoenas, forensic accounting, and courtroom advocacy.
Our Experience
Why Clients Across North Carolina Choose Us
We do not handle probate - we litigate the conflicts over it.
Attorney Kirk Sanders has:
- Removed dishonest executors
- Removed bad actor trustees
- Forced disclosure of hidden estate assets
- Recovered property wrongfully taken during probate
- Protected heirs when no one else would act
Other lawyers, fiduciaries, and court-appointed administrators regularly refer contested probate cases to our firm because they trust our litigation experience and results.
Take Action Now
Your Case. Your Rights. Your Fight.
If probate has turned hostile or suspicious, do not wait. Call (336) 510-4000 today to discuss your probate dispute. We will investigate the facts, explain your options, and fight to protect your inheritance.