A Virginia small estate affidavit may expedite a probate process for an estate worth less than $50,000 (excluding real estate). The form may not be used until at least 60 days have passed since the decedent's death date.
Many people assume that creditors have one year from the date of death to make a claim against an estate. However, in Virginia, unlike most states, there is no set time by which creditors must make a claim.
Surrogate's Court Procedure Act § 707 states that a nominated executor is ineligible to serve it if they are: (a) an infant; (b) an incompetent or incapacitated person as determined by the Court; (c) a non-citizen or non-permanent resident of the United States; (d) a felon; and (e) one who does not possess the ...
Any person who seeks to prove that he has a debt or demand against the decedent or the decedent's estate shall file his claim in writing with the commissioner of accounts, who shall endorse upon it the date of the filing and sign the endorsement in his official character.
Submit your claim directly to the probate court and serve a copy on the personal representative. If you file a formal claim and the personal representative rejects it, you can file suit against the estate within three months of the rejection.
Filing a claim against an estate is a fairly simple process: In the claim, you'll state under oath that the debt is owed and provide details on the amount of the debt and any payments the decedent made. If you have written documentation, you can attach it to your claim.
Understanding the Deceased Estate 3-Year Rule The core premise of the 3-year rule is that if the deceased's estate is not claimed or administered within three years of their death, the state or governing body may step in and take control of the distribution and management of the assets.