An heir can claim their inheritance anywhere from six months to three years after a decedent passes away, depending on where they live. Every state and county jurisdiction sets different rules about an heir's ability to claim their inheritance.
If you have no legitimate or living residual beneficiary, state law applies. When a will has residual benefits and no heir to claim them or if the residual beneficiary themselves has died, typically states distribute the property under their intestacy laws.
New York state law does not have a specific time limit for settling an estate.
How to Submit a Claim A copy of the death certificate. Proof of Address or Ownership connecting the owner to the address or funds. Letters of Authority (Testamentary/Administration) issued by the court certifying your appointment, dated within the last six months, or a Small Estates Affidavit and Table of Heirs.
You must file out a form and submit it to the register to make the claim official. If the claim is filed by a creditor with the court, their right to proceed is preserved against what is known as the distributee or who receives assets from the estate only if the real property is considered an estate asset.
A New York Estate is Not a Legal Entity and Cannot Be Sued. After the death of an individual, the usual course is to proceed to have a fiduciary appointed to represent the decedent's estate.
If you have been named as a beneficiary in a will, it is important to recognize how long you have to declare your inheritance. Generally speaking, the time limit for a person or family member to claim an inheritance in New York State is two years from the date of the decedent's death.
--No claimant shall have any claim against real property conveyed by a personal representative in distribution at his own risk pursuant to subsection (a) hereof, unless such claimant, within one year after the decedent's death, files a written notice of his claim with the clerk.
It's also important to note that certain steps in the probate process have strict deadlines. For example, the executor or administrator must file the initial petition for probate within 30 days of the deceased's passing.
Although there is no set time limit on how long you have to settle an estate in Pennsylvania, probate and estate lawyers can help you get it done in a timely manner and guide you through the process.