My sibling is executor and will not open probate. What happens now?

In the estate planning context, a person named in a will usually does not have full authority to act for the estate until the required probate appointment occurs. As part of the legal review, a beneficiary may be able to request information, ask the probate court to set deadlines, or seek another fiduciary if delay is harming the estate. Avoid self help measures such as changing locks, taking estate money, or transferring title until the person with authority is confirmed. Estate, trust, title, and family rights are governed largely by state law, so a local attorney should check the governing documents and the current court or title record before anyone makes a move that would be difficult to undo.