Court & filings
Notify creditors and handle claims
Most states require formal notice to known creditors and a published notice to unknown creditors. There's a window for claims, then it closes.
- When to do it
- Shortly after Letters issue.
- Estimated time
- Notice goes out fast; the claims window is usually 3–6 months
What you’ll need
- List of known creditors (from the inventory step)
- Newspaper of general circulation in the county
Steps
- Send written notice to each known creditor at the address you have on file.
- Publish notice in a qualifying local paper as required by state law.
- Track the claims window. Claims filed late are generally barred.
- Review each claim. Pay valid claims; reject and document anything that's questionable.
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Related tasks
- File the probate petition with the courtIf the estate requires probate, you'll file a petition with the appropriate court in the county where the decedent lived.
- Get Letters TestamentaryLetters Testamentary are the court document that proves you're the legal executor. You'll need them to do almost anything financial.
- Order certified copies of the death certificateYou'll need certified copies of the death certificate for nearly everything else — banks, insurers, the court, the Social Security Administration.