The personal representative named in the will must verify with the district court if any demand for notice of the estate’s probate has been filed.^[4] The following must then be filed with the probate court of the county where the decedent resided^[5]:

• Original will
• Application for Informal Probate and Appointment of Personal Representative
• Order for Informal Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative
• Acceptance of Appointment as Personal Representative
• Letters Testamentary (issued after filing the above documents)

The personal representative must mail devisees a Notice of Informal Appointment of Personal Representative, file a Proof of Notice with the probate court, and complete an Inventory.^[6]

The personal representative is responsible for distributing estate assets.^[7] The decedent’s surviving spouse (or minor children, if none) is entitled to the statutory allowances before other payments are made.^[8] The personal representative must then settle estate expenses, claims, and debts before distributing the remaining assets as instructed in the will.^[9]

The personal representative must send an Accounting of the administration to the distributees and parties who filed a demand for notice, and send a Verified Closing Statement to distributees and creditors after filing it with the probate court.^[10]