What is the process for negotiating a creditor’s payoff amount in estate administration? (MO)
FAQ: How do I negotiate a creditor’s payoff amount during estate administration in Missouri? Short answer: The personal representative (executor/administrator) reviews and verifies creditor claims, determines estate solvency and claim priority, attempts to resolve disputes through documentation and negotiation, and — if necessary — seeks court approval for settlements. Missouri law requires notice to creditors […]
Read article →What steps can be taken to verify or contest a creditor’s payoff quote on an estate debt — MO
Detailed Answer This article explains practical steps to verify or contest a creditor’s payoff quote for a debt of a decedent’s estate under Missouri law. It assumes you have little or no legal background and walks through what to ask for, how to check the numbers, and how to raise a formal challenge in probate […]
Read article →How to submit an affidavit accounting for personal property in a small estate case — MO
How to submit an affidavit accounting for personal property in a small estate case in Missouri Short answer: In Missouri, you prepare a sworn affidavit that identifies the decedent, lists the decedent’s personal property and estimated values, states your right to collect or distribute the property (as spouse, heir, or other lawful claimant), attach the […]
Read article →What records are needed to show asset transfers under small estate procedures in Missouri (MO)?
Detailed Answer This answer explains what records and documents you will commonly need to show that assets were transferred under Missouri small‑estate procedures. It uses general Missouri law and hypothetical facts to illustrate typical evidence custodians and agencies expect. This is educational only and not legal advice. Missouri’s probate statutes provide a streamlined way to […]
Read article →What are the legal requirements and process for transferring a decedent’s firearms during probate in MO?
Transferring a Decedent’s Firearms During Probate in Missouri — Detailed FAQ This FAQ explains how firearms owned by someone who has died are handled during probate in Missouri. It covers the practical steps an executor or family member should take, legal limits on who can receive guns, and special rules for regulated (NFA) firearms. This […]
Read article →What documentation is needed to prove ownership when filing a surplus funds claim in Missouri (MO)?
Surplus Funds Claims in Missouri: What Documentation Proves Ownership? Quick summary: Surplus funds (also called surplus proceeds or overplus) are the money left after a sheriff's sale or foreclosure sale once all liens and costs get paid. To claim those funds in Missouri you must prove you have a legal right to them. The exact […]
Read article →How to protect life insurance proceeds when there is no named beneficiary from creditor claims in estate administration (MO)
Protecting Life Insurance Proceeds When No Beneficiary Is Named — Missouri Guide Short answer: If a life insurance policy has no living named beneficiary, Missouri insurers commonly pay the proceeds to the insured’s estate. When proceeds become part of the probate estate, they can be used to pay the deceased’s creditors during estate administration. You […]
Read article →What should I do if an heir refuses to return estate property and the estate is still open? (MO)
Detailed Answer — How to get estate property back when an heir refuses to return it (Missouri) Short answer: If the estate is still open, the personal representative (executor or administrator) should first ask the heir to return the property in writing, preserve evidence, and then ask the probate court to compel turnover if the […]
Read article →Can I become the personal representative of my sister's estate? (MO)
Can I become the personal representative of my sister's estate? Short answer: Possibly. Under Missouri law you can be appointed the personal representative (sometimes called executor or administrator) of your sister’s estate if you meet the court’s qualifications and either your sister named you in a valid will or you have priority under Missouri’s rules […]
Read article →What options do heirs have when an estate administrator becomes unresponsive or refuses to distribute assets? – MO
Heirs’ options when an estate administrator is unresponsive or refuses to distribute assets (Missouri) Detailed Answer When an estate administrator (sometimes called a personal representative or executor) in Missouri becomes unresponsive or refuses to distribute estate assets, heirs have several options. Missouri law gives the probate court authority to supervise estate administration, require an accounting, […]
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