Rather than going through probate, an estate with a value of $50,000 or less can be collected and distributed with an Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property (or “small estate affidavit”).^[8]

The personal representative has the priority to initiate probate, although it may be done by any interested party. While both formal and informal administration are options for probate, in most cases, the personal representative will file for informal administration (the process covered by this guide). To admit the will for informal probate, the following must be provided to the district court of the county where the decedent last resided^[9]:

• Application for Informal Probate – This form requests that the court admit the will into informal probate.^[10]
• Acknowledgment of Fiduciary Relationship – This document allows a personal representative to be appointed by the court and must be notarized or subscribed to under oath.^[11]
• Last Will and Testament^[12]

If the filings are approved, the court clerk will issue the personal representative a written statement of informal probate.^[13]

The personal representative must file a Statement of Acceptance of Duties with the court clerk, which will allow them to receive the Letters Testamentary.^[14] Once received, the personal representative is authorized to administer the estate. No bond is required in an informal administration unless demanded by an interested party.^[15]

Within 30 days of being appointed, the personal representative must mail a Notice of Appointment to all beneficiaries.^[16] A Notice to Creditors must also be published in a newspaper once a week for three weeks to inform any creditors that claims against the decedent will be barred after four months. The personal representative is not required to mail any notice directly to creditors.^[17] However, interested parties may demand that the personal representative provide them with a notice of any filing related to the estate.^[18]

Once the notices are delivered and published, the personal representative must prepare an Inventory within nine months after their appointment, and send copies to interested parties upon their request.^[19] The Inventory may also be filed with the court, though not mandatory.

The personal representative is also responsible for resolving debts or obligations, collecting the estate’s assets, and distributing them to the rightful beneficiaries.

Once the estate is fully administered, the period for creditors to submit claims has expired, and six months since the personal representative’s appointment has passed, a Closing Statement can be filed with the court.^[20] The Closing Statement and an Accounting must be given to all beneficiaries, and a copy of the Closing Statement should be sent to any creditors with pending claims.^[21]

If no proceedings are pending against the personal representative after one year from the Closing Statement’s filing, they are relieved of any further duties.

Instead of filing a Closing Statement, an estate may be closed by petitioning for an order of complete settlement (once the period for submitting claims has passed).^[22] The personal representative must give a Notice of Hearing to interested parties at least 14 days before the hearing, and if any of their contact information is unknown, publish it in a newspaper for three weeks. Proof of delivering the notice must be filed before or at the hearing.^[23]

During the proceeding, the personal representative may request that the court approve an Accounting or propose a distribution schedule. The court will then issue orders for the estate’s distribution and discharge the personal representative.

If no actions against a personal representative are pending after their discharge, they may file a verified application with the court clerk. The clerk will issue a certificate demonstrating that the estate is fully administered and, if applicable, that any lien on property provided by the personal representative as a bond is discharged.^[24]