Ontario. The executor of an estate to which I and my siblings…

Testator died June 13 2014.
Calculation of executor compensation was 5% of money received for the sales and income on behalf of the Estate and by way of money and the income paid out on behalf of the estate ($345,781.34 x 5% = 17289.07). She took $12,000 as an "interim advance" of Executor's Compensation on 24 October 2014.
Not only has the estate not been wound up yest, all the assets of the estate have yet to be liquidated.
Of the five beneficiaries, only two have signed a release, the executor (who is also a beneficiary) and one other beneficiary.
I have not signed a release and the two remaining beneficiaries have indicated they will not sign a release under the circumstances.Here is the full story in brief:Since June 2014, my sister is the executor of an estate in which she, myself and three other siblings are equal beneficiaries. Since that time, she has given us only one four-line update on progress with the estate, through the estate lawyer.She refuses to discuss or answer our questions about the estate and is withholding at least one requested document (the estate lawyer's bill). We have repeatedly asked for a updates on the estate, and a financial statement of the estate to no avail.She sold the deceased's house directly to a buyer brought by the real estate agent for the estate without putting it on the market or having it appraised. She will not answer questions about the house sale.In September 2014, she distributed a Confirmation and Release asking us to unconditionally approve her work as executor and assume liability for any future claims against the estate in exchange for an interim distribution. The beneficiaries declined to sign this release or accept the distribution.Shortly after this, she took the maximum executor's compensation from the estate without notifying any of the beneficiaries until after the fact. (See my previous note). The estate has not yet been even fully liquidated. There is an extensive coin collection, stamp collection and other collectibles which need to be evaluated. We have been given no information on the status of these collections.We would like to know if our rights as beneficiaries are being disrespected and what if anything we can do to bring about a change in the way this executor is conducting the business of the estate.

Not sure I got that. If you are asking, do I or another beneficiary wish to administer the estate, the answer is only if all else fails. Ideally, the current executor would change tack and start being more co-operative, open, transparent, proactive in informing the beneficiaries, etc.

There is. Appointed by the testator.

Thanks for that, that's interesting. But to clarify: aside from her taking the fees improperly, is she acting improperly in refusing to provide information or answer questions about the estate? Should the beneficiaries be able to expect her to be more responsive, transparent and co-operative when dealing with reasonable questions around such things as the real estate transaction?