Family member witholding dispersion of family possessions

[RG and HV]

What is the name of your state? Massachusetts

My mother moved from Connecticut to California in 2003. She shipped her possessions there too and they have been held in storage by my brother ever since. My mother passed in 2015 but my brother is now refusing to tell me what those items are. In fact, he is refusing to respond at all to my inquiries. I am the exectutor of my mother's estate and would like to at least recover those items that are of personal value, but without cooperation from my brother, this is going to be difficult to do. I am wondering what are the first steps I should/could take to nudge my brother towards cooperation? Thank you.

 

[adjusterjack]

The estate will have to sue your brother. This will be complicated by you living at the other end of the country. It's also going to be expensive to hire a lawyer in California to handle the lawsuit, if it can even be filed at this late date. There may be a statute of limitations in California. You really do need to be talking to a probate attorney in California.

 

[zddoodah]

My mother moved from Connecticut to California in 2003. She shipped her possessions there too and they have been held in storage by my brother ever since.

Why has your brother been holding your mother's possessions in storage for 17 years (and particularly for the time period between her move to California and her death)?

I am the exectutor of my mother's estate

Is this because a superior court judge in California (which is where I assume she was living at the time of her death) appointed you to serve in the capacity of executor? If not, why do you believe that you're the executor?

I am wondering what are the first steps I should/could take to nudge my brother towards cooperation?

Well...for starters, when were you appointed as executor (if, in fact, that's what happened), and why have you not taken any action over the past five years?