Indiana: Regaining Control of a Deceased Parent's Bank and Credit Card Accounts
What to do when someone else is using a deceased parent’s bank or credit card accounts Short answer If a person is using a deceased parent’s accounts after death, act quickly: secure documentation of the death, notify the bank and credit-card companies, contact the local probate court to start estate administration (or use a small‑estate […]
Read article →Indiana: Securing a Deceased Person’s House and Preventing Siblings from Removing Belongings
Disclaimer: This is educational information, not legal advice. For guidance about your specific situation in Indiana, consult a licensed Indiana probate attorney. Detailed Answer — What you can do now to secure the house and protect estate property under Indiana law When someone dies, control over their property normally shifts to the personal representative (also […]
Read article →How to Become the Administrator of Your Father's Estate in Indiana (Dying Without a Will)
Detailed Answer Short answer: To become the court-appointed administrator of your father’s estate in Indiana when he died without a will (intestate), you must file a petition in the probate court where he lived, follow the court’s procedures for notice and appointment, and receive “letters of administration” from the court. The process follows Indiana’s probate […]
Read article →Order of Succession Among Children for Intestate Estates — Indiana
Detailed answer — how Indiana distributes an intestate estate among children Short answer: If a person dies without a will in Indiana, the estate passes to the decedent’s heirs under the state intestacy rules. Children (including legally adopted children and children whose paternity has been established) are primary heirs. Living children divide the decedent’s share […]
Read article →Indiana: How to Get Court Approval to Sell a House and Pay Off the Mortgage
Getting Court Approval to Sell a House and Pay Off the Mortgage in Indiana Short answer: If the house is owned by an estate, a ward, or someone subject to court supervision, you usually must petition the probate or guardianship court for authority to sell real property. The court will require notice to interested parties, […]
Read article →Indiana — Can Payable-on-Death (POD) Accounts Be Used to Pay a Decedent’s Creditors?
Using Payable-on-Death (POD) Accounts to Pay a Decedent’s Creditors in Indiana Short answer: In Indiana, payable-on-death (POD) accounts generally pass directly to the named beneficiary outside probate and are not part of the probate estate available to pay the decedent’s probate creditors. However, there are important exceptions and practical steps you must know before assuming […]
Read article →How to Open an Indiana Estate Bank Account Using the Estate EIN
FAQ: Setting Up an Estate Bank Account Using the IRS EIN — Indiana Disclaimer: This is educational information only and not legal advice. For help with a specific estate, consult a licensed Indiana probate attorney or the probate court in the county where the decedent lived. Detailed Answer — Step‑by‑step under Indiana law When someone […]
Read article →Indiana: What Happens When a Creditor Files a Claim After the 90‑Day Notice Period
Short answer In Indiana probate, a creditor who files a claim after the statutory notice period is generally barred from enforcing that claim against the estate unless the court allows the late filing for a good reason. The personal representative (executor/administrator) can object and ask the probate court to disallow the late claim. Conversely, a […]
Read article →How to Claim Your Share of a Parent’s Estate in Indiana When There Is No Will
Detailed Answer Situation explained: When someone dies without a valid will, the state’s intestacy rules decide who inherits and how. Below is a plain-language, step-by-step guide to claiming your share of a parent’s estate in Indiana and what to expect during the process. 1. Confirm that the estate is intestate “Intestate” means there is no […]
Read article →Surviving Spouse Rights in Indiana When a Spouse Dies Without a Will
What are my rights as a surviving spouse in Indiana when my spouse died without a will? Short answer: As a surviving spouse in Indiana, you have important legal rights to inherit, to seek appointment as the estate’s personal representative, and to protect and control the decedent’s property during probate. If the decedent died intestate […]
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