Settlement Against Estate Without Will In Massachusetts
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FAQ
If not so resolved, any will probated informally becomes final, and if there is no such probate, the status of the decedent as intestate is finally determined, by a statute of limitations which bars probate and appointment unless requested within three years after death.
If the decedent died without a will You'll need to file: Petition for Informal Probate of Will and/or Appointment of Personal Representative (MPC 150) Surviving Spouse, Children, Heirs at Law (MPC 162) A certified copy of the death certificate.
In general, executors are expected to distribute assets within several months to a year, though larger or contested estates may take longer. Probate courts often set deadlines for filings, but final distribution typically occurs only after debts, taxes and administrative expenses are settled.
Under Massachusetts law (MA Gen L ch 190B § 3-803), creditors have one year from the date of the decedent's death to assert their claims against the estate. This is a shorter time frame than in many other states, which often allow creditors two or more years to make their claims.
The general rule is that an estate has to be probated within 3 years of when the decedent died. However, this deadline doesn't apply to: A voluntary administration. Determining heirs.
The deceased person's surviving spouse, children and their dependents, parents, and then siblings and their descendents are the next of kin. The law clearly spells out how to divide intestate shares of estate.
In Massachusetts, this involves publishing a legal notice in a local newspaper and sending notices directly to known creditors. Creditors have one year from the date of death to file a claim against the estate.
The statute of limitations to contest a will varies by state and is typically between three months and two years. If the claim involves fraud, the statute of limitations often begins running on the date the fraud is discovered.
