After feuding with another family, my first character had fallen deathly ill, it had seemed, due to some slime that had been planted on my house. For the past 3 or 4 in-game years (not just seasons/turns), I have been unable to click on my family's coat of arms icon, view town information, or use items. When I try, the message "You are about to die." keeps displaying at the bottom of the screen. I can't view my character's information to tell how old he is or view his skills, though I can view my heirs' information just fine. Though I have been unable to accuse anyone of crimes, blackmail, use items, etc, I am perfectly able to spend AP training skills and I've even run for an open office.
This has been my first playthrough with this game, but how long does it take for my character to keel over? I've been "about to die" for the past few years! My heirs are already aging and I'd like to be able to continue my necromantic lineage! :P
Any advice? Thanks!

There was a solution for this, but i'm not completely sure what it was. Did you already try to simply save and reload? At least i can assure you that this is a bug and you are not meant to "die" for years... ;)
If it's not save&reload then it's something in-game you can do about it... Someone else remember this bug?

I also recall a save/reload (or reloading the last Autosave) solves the problem.

If you go to the first room in your house where you can increase you business mastery, handicraft skill, negotiations skill and do some espionage and all that stuff, to the left there's a window that gives you the option to jump. No need to reload the game just suicide and let the heir take over.