Probate in Vermont | VT Legal Resources | FastCounsel

Reimbursing Yourself From a Decedent’s Estate for a Vehicle Lien Payment — Vermont

Disclaimer: This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, contact a Vermont probate attorney or the probate court. Detailed Answer — How reimbursement from an estate typically works in Vermont If you used your personal funds to pay a lien on a decedent’s vehicle, you may be able to recover […]

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Vermont: How Remaining Estate Funds Are Distributed to Children After Debts and Taxes

Disclaimer: This is general information, not legal advice. Consult a licensed Vermont attorney about your specific situation before acting. Detailed Answer When an estate has paid all taxes, valid creditor claims, and administration expenses, the remaining net assets belong to the estate’s beneficiaries. In Vermont, the process to distribute those remaining funds to the decedent’s […]

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Vermont — Do I Need to Post a Bond to Be Administrator of My Mother’s Intestate Estate?

Do I need to post a bond to serve as administrator of my mother’s intestate estate in Vermont? Short answer: In Vermont, courts generally require an administrator of an intestate estate to give a fiduciary bond (a surety bond) to protect the estate and its creditors and heirs. The probate court can, however, in some […]

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Vermont: Factors Courts Use When Appointing an Estate Administrator

How Vermont Courts Decide Who Becomes an Estate Administrator Not legal advice. This article explains general Vermont probate practice to help you understand when to consult an attorney. Detailed answer When a person dies without a will (or when an appointed executor cannot serve), the Vermont Probate Court appoints an administrator (also called a personal […]

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Vermont: Using Sale Proceeds to Pay Estate Cleanup and Junk Removal

Can a personal representative use sale proceeds to pay junk removal and personal-property cleanup under Vermont law? Short answer Yes — a personal representative (executor or administrator) may generally use estate funds, including proceeds from sales of estate assets, to pay reasonable and necessary costs of administering the estate, such as junk removal and cleanup […]

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Vermont — How to Regain Control of a Deceased Parent’s Bank and Credit Card Accounts

Answer — What to do when someone else is using a deceased parent’s bank or credit-card accounts This guide explains practical steps under Vermont law to stop unauthorized use of a deceased person’s financial accounts and to regain lawful control. It assumes no prior legal knowledge. This is educational only and not legal advice; consult […]

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Vermont: How Unauthorized Charges to a Parent's Estate Are Handled in Probate

Detailed Answer When an estate enters probate in Vermont, the probate court and the appointed personal representative (also called an executor or administrator) follow legal steps to collect assets, pay valid debts and expenses, and distribute the remainder to heirs and beneficiaries. If you discover unauthorized charges to your parent’s estate—charges that the estate did […]

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Vermont: How to Secure and Inventory a Deceased Relative’s Home Before You’re Appointed Administrator

How to Secure and Inventory a Deceased Relative’s Home in Vermont Before Appointment as Administrator Short answer: Act quickly to secure the property, document everything, and use non‑confrontational, lawful steps to prevent siblings from removing items. Start a formal probate petition as soon as possible so the court can issue letters of administration (or temporary […]

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How to Be Appointed Administrator of an Estate in Vermont

Overview: Getting Appointed Administrator of an Intestate Estate in Vermont This FAQ-style guide explains, in plain language, how someone (for example, a child) can get appointed as the administrator of a parent’s estate when the parent died without a will in Vermont. It describes the typical steps, what the probate court reviews, what paperwork and […]

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Vermont — How Children Succeed to an Intestate Estate (Order of Succession)

How children inherit when someone dies without a will in Vermont This FAQ explains how Vermont law treats the order of succession among children when a person dies intestate (without a will). It covers who counts as a child, what happens when a child predeceases the decedent, and how shares are calculated. Detailed Answer — […]

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