Indiana: Selling an Estate House Facing Foreclosure When a Co-Administrator Refuses to Sign
FAQ-style guidance on selling an estate house in Indiana when a co-administrator refuses to sign Short answer: If a co-administrator refuses to sign sale documents, the probate court in Indiana can be asked to resolve the impasse. Options include negotiating with the co-administrator, asking the court to authorize the sale by one administrator, requesting appointment […]
Read article →Indiana: Getting Court Approval to Release Estate Funds During a Distribution Dispute
Getting Court Approval to Release Estate Funds When Beneficiaries Disagree Short answer If beneficiaries or creditors dispute how estate money should be split, the personal representative (executor) cannot safely distribute disputed funds without either a written agreement of all interested parties or a court order. In Indiana you must file a petition with the probate […]
Read article →Indiana: What Happens to Leftover Money After a Deceased Parent’s Home Is Sold?
Detailed Answer When a decedent’s home is sold and the proceeds are used to pay the decedent’s debts, any remaining cash typically becomes part of the decedent’s probate estate in Indiana. The personal representative (sometimes called the executor) is responsible for collecting assets, paying valid claims and expenses, and then distributing any remaining funds according […]
Read article →Indiana: How to Get a Parent’s Will Filed When the Original Is Withheld
Filing a parent’s will in Indiana when the original is withheld Detailed Answer If a person holding your deceased parent’s original will refuses to give it to the probate court, you still have legal options in Indiana. The probate process focuses on proving the decedent’s wishes and distributing the estate according to law. Below are […]
Read article →Indiana: Reimbursing Personal Payments Made Toward a Decedent’s Vehicle Lien
Can I be reimbursed from an estate for payments I made from my own funds toward the decedent’s vehicle lien? Short answer: Possibly — but it depends on your role (personal representative or third party), whether the payments were necessary to preserve the estate asset, whether the estate has funds, and whether the court or […]
Read article →Indiana — How Remaining Estate Funds Are Distributed to the Decedent's Children
How the Personal Representative Distributes an Estate to Children in Indiana Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This article explains general information about Indiana probate and distribution procedures only. It is not legal advice. For help with a specific estate, consult a licensed Indiana probate attorney or the probate court in the county where the […]
Read article →Indiana: When an Administrator Must Post a Bond and When Courts May Waive It
Understanding Administrator Bonds in Indiana Intestate Estates Detailed Answer Short answer: Under Indiana law the probate court normally requires an administrator appointed to manage an intestate estate to post a fiduciary bond (also called an administration bond). However, the court can reduce or waive that bond in certain situations — for example when interested heirs […]
Read article →Indiana: Factors Courts Consider When Appointing an Estate Administrator
Detailed Answer Short overview. When someone dies with or without a will in Indiana, the probate court must name a personal representative (often called an executor when named in a will, or an administrator when appointed by the court). The court’s job is to pick a person who can manage the estate, protect creditors’ and […]
Read article →Indiana — Using Sale Proceeds to Pay Estate Cleanout and Junk Removal Expenses
Detailed answer Short answer: Yes — when you are the court‑appointed personal representative (or an authorized agent handling probate assets), proceeds from the sale of estate property generally become estate funds and may be used to pay reasonable estate administration expenses such as junk removal, cleaning, storage, or disposal of personal property. You must follow […]
Read article →Indiana Probate FAQ: Handling Unauthorized Charges to a Parent’s Estate
Detailed Answer Short answer: In Indiana, unauthorized charges against a decedent’s assets are addressed through the probate process by requiring the personal representative to identify and justify all disbursements, by allowing interested parties to object and seek court remedies (accounting, surcharge, removal), and by permitting civil or criminal actions for conversion or theft when appropriate. […]
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