Probate Guide A guide for clerks serving courts with probate jurisdiction September 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ........................................................................................................................................................ 0 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 1 The Probate Court ....................................................................................................................... 1 Overview of the Testate and Intestate Estate ............................................................................ 2 Sample Guidelines for Initiating An Estate ............................................................................... 2 CHAPTER TWO ADMISSION OF WILL TO PROBATE ....................................................................................... 4 Time Limitations on Probate ...................................................................................................... 4 Who Presents the Will or Wills ................................................................................................... 5 Renunciation by Devisee .............................................................................................................. 5 Common Form Probate ............................................................................................................... 5 Solemn Form Probate .................................................................................................................. 5 Notice and Its Effect ..................................................................................................................... 5 Time of Notice ............................................................................................................................... 6 Other Considerations ................................................................................................................... 6 Sufficiency of the Will .................................................................................................................. 7 Common Form .............................................................................................................................. 7 Solemn Form ................................................................................................................................. 8 Affidavits ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Secondary Proof ........................................................................................................................... 9 Out-of-State Execution of Will .................................................................................................... 9 Construction of Will ..................................................................................................................... 9 Contents of Petition .................................................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER THREE WILL CONTEST ........................................................................................................................... 11 Jurisdiction ................................................................................................................................. 11 Certificate of Contest ................................................................................................................. 11 Bond ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Contest Before Probate in Common form ............................................................................... 11 Proceeding to Set Aside in Common form ............................................................................... 12 CHAPTER FOUR LETTERS AND BOND ................................................................................................................. 13 Letters Testamentary ................................................................................................................. 13 Letters of Administration .......................................................................................................... 13 Letters of Administration C.T.A. .............................................................................................. 13 Appointing Administrator Pendente Lite ................................................................................ 13 Administrator Ad Litem ............................................................................................................ 13 Jurisdiction ................................................................................................................................. 13 Application of Letters ................................................................................................................ 13 Oath ............................................................................................................................................. 13 Preference for Appointment in an Intestate Estate................................................................. 13 Bond ............................................................................................................................................. 14 Waiver of Bond ........................................................................................................................... 14 Bond Requirement ..................................................................................................................... 14 Creditor to Qualify ..................................................................................................................... 14 CHAPTER FIVE ELECTIVE SHARE AND ALLOWANCES ............................................................................... 15 Allowances To Family ................................................................................................................ 15 Specific Exemptions ................................................................................................................... 15 Year’s Support ............................................................................................................................ 16 Wages ........................................................................................................................................... 16 Sums Due Decedent of Less Than $10,000.00 after Six Months ............................................ 17 Insurance ..................................................................................................................................... 17 Income Tax Refund Up to $500.00 ........................................................................................... 18 Soil Conservation Payment ....................................................................................................... 18 Homestead ................................................................................................................................... 18 Procedure To Set Aside Homestead ......................................................................................... 19 Valuation For Inheritance Tax ................................................................................................. 20 Election By Spouse Against Decedent’s Will ........................................................................... 20 Procedure .................................................................................................................................... 21 Time Extension Due To Litigation ............................................................................................ 21 Mental Incompetency or Minority of Surviving Spouse ......................................................... 21 Death of Surviving Spouse Within Dissent Time .................................................................... 22 Effect of Divorce, Annulment, and Decree of Separation ...................................................... 22 CHAPTER SIX INTESTACY .................................................................................................................................. 23 General Rules of Descent ........................................................................................................... 23 Share of the Surviving Spouse ................................................................................................... 23 Share of Heirs Other Than Surviving Spouse ......................................................................... 23 Effect of Divorce, Annulment, and Decree of Separation ...................................................... 24 The Parent - Child Relationship ............................................................................................... 24 Afterborn Heirs .......................................................................................................................... 25 Renunciation or Disclaimer of Succession ............................................................................... 25 Person Feloniously Killing Another Forfeits All Rights In and To Deceased Property .................................................................................................... 27 Escheats 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