Rejection of claim; notice; time to file suit; procedure if claim of Department of Human Resources rejected; service of summons; removal of personal representative for default.
1. If a claim is rejected by the personal representative or the court, in whole or in part, the claimant must be immediately notified by the personal representative, and the claimant must bring suit in the proper court against the personal representative within 60 days after the notice or file a timely petition for summary determination pursuant to subsection 2, whether the claim is due or not, or the claim is forever barred. A claimant must be informed of the rejection of the claim by written notice forwarded to the claimant’s mailing address by registered or certified mail.
2. If a claim filed by the Department of Human Resources is rejected by the personal representative, the Director of the Department may, within 20 days after receipt of the written notice of rejection, petition the court for summary determination of the claim. A petition for summary determination must be filed with the clerk, who shall set the petition for hearing, and notice must be given for the period and in the manner required by NRS 155.010. Allowance of the claim by the court is sufficient evidence of its correctness, and it must be paid as if previously allowed by the personal representative.
3. In any action brought upon a claim rejected in whole or in part by the personal representative, if he resides out of the State or has departed from the State, or cannot, after due diligence, be found within the State, or conceals himself to avoid the service of summons, the summons, together with a copy of the complaint, must be mailed directly to the last address given by him, with a copy to the attorney for the estate, and proof of the mailing must be filed with the clerk where the administration of the estate is pending. This service is the equivalent of personal service upon the personal representative, but he has 30 days from the date of service within which to answer.
4. If the personal representative defaults after such service, the default is sufficient grounds for his removal as personal representative by the court without notice. Upon petition and notice, in the manner provided for an application for letters of administration, an administrator or an administrator with the will annexed must be appointed by the court and, upon his qualification as such, letters of administration or letters of administration with the will annexed must be issued.
Last modified: February 25, 2006