Estates not exceeding $20,000: Transfer of assets without issuance of letters of administration or probate of will; affidavit showing right to assets.
1. If a decedent leaves no real property, nor interest therein, nor mortgage or lien thereon, in this state, and the gross value of the decedent’s property in this state, over and above any amounts due to the decedent for services in the Armed Forces of the United States, does not exceed $20,000, a person who has a right to succeed to the property of the decedent pursuant to the laws of succession for a decedent who died intestate or pursuant to the valid will of a decedent who died testate, on behalf of all persons entitled to succeed to the property claimed, or the Director of the Department of Human Resources or public administrator on behalf of the State or others entitled to the property, may, 40 days after the death of the decedent, without procuring letters of administration or awaiting the probate of the will, collect any money due the decedent, receive the property of the decedent, and have any evidences of interest, indebtedness or right transferred to the claimant upon furnishing the person, representative, corporation, officer or body owing the money, having custody of the property or acting as registrar or transfer agent of the evidences of interest, indebtedness or right, with an affidavit showing the right of the affiant or affiants to receive the money or property or to have the evidence transferred.
2. An affidavit made pursuant to this section must state:
(a) The affiant’s name and address, and that the affiant is entitled by law to succeed to the property claimed;
(b) The date and place of death of the decedent;
(c) That the gross value of the decedent’s property in this state, except amounts due the decedent for services in the Armed Forces of the United States, does not exceed $20,000, and that the property does not include any real property nor interest therein, nor mortgage or lien thereon;
(d) That at least 40 days have elapsed since the death of the decedent, as shown in a certified copy of the certificate of death of the decedent attached to the affidavit;
(e) That no petition for the appointment of a personal representative is pending or has been granted in any jurisdiction;
(f) That all debts of the decedent, including funeral and burial expenses, and money owed to the Department of Human Resources as a result of the payment of benefits for Medicaid, have been paid or provided for;
(g) A description of the personal property and the portion claimed;
(h) That the affiant has given written notice, by personal service or by certified mail, identifying the affiant’s claim and describing the property claimed, to every person whose right to succeed to the decedent’s property is equal or superior to that of the affiant, and that at least 14 days have elapsed since the notice was served or mailed;
(i) That the affiant is personally entitled, or the Department of Human Resources is entitled, to full payment or delivery of the property claimed or is entitled to payment or delivery on behalf of and with the written authority of all other successors who have an interest in the property; and
(j) That the affiant acknowledges an understanding that filing a false affidavit constitutes a felony in this state.
3. If the affiant:
(a) Submits an affidavit which does not meet the requirements of subsection 2 or which contains statements which are not entirely true, any money or property the affiant receives is subject to all debts of the decedent.
(b) Fails to give notice to other successors as required by subsection 2, any money or property the affiant receives is held by the affiant in trust for all other successors who have an interest in the property.
4. A person who receives an affidavit containing the information required by subsection 2 is entitled to rely upon that information, and if the person relies in good faith, the person is immune from civil liability for actions based on that reliance.
5. Upon receiving proof of the death of the decedent and an affidavit containing the information required by this section:
(a) A transfer agent of any security shall change the registered ownership of the security claimed from the decedent to the person claiming to succeed to ownership of that security.
(b) A governmental agency required to issue certificates of title, ownership or registration to personal property shall issue a new certificate of title, ownership or registration to the person claiming to succeed to ownership of the property.
6. If any property of the estate not exceeding $20,000 is located in a state which requires an order of a court for the transfer of the property, or if the estate consists of stocks or bonds which must be transferred by an agent outside this state, any person qualified pursuant to the provisions of subsection 1 to have the stocks or bonds or other property transferred may do so by obtaining a court order directing the transfer. The person desiring the transfer must file a petition, which may be ex parte, containing:
(a) A specific description of all the property of the decedent.
(b) A list of all the liens and mortgages of record at the date of the decedent’s death.
(c) An estimate of the value of the property of the decedent.
(d) The names, ages of any minors and residences of the decedent’s heirs and devisees.
(e) A request for the court to issue an order directing the transfer of the stocks or bonds or other property if the court finds the gross value of the estate does not exceed $20,000.
(f) An attached copy of the executed affidavit made pursuant to subsection 2.
ÊIf the court finds that the gross value of the estate does not exceed $20,000 and the person requesting the transfer is entitled to it, the court may enter an order directing the transfer.
Last modified: February 25, 2006