My mother just died, lived in KY, small bank account only asset, only debt is utlilties, how do I gain acess to settle pay bills?
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My mother just died, lived in KY, small bank account only asset, only debt is utlilties, how do I gain acess to settle pay bills?
I went to district probate Court obtained petition form to fill out. There is no will, only asset is bank account but bank will not confirm balance, last statement show $2500.00. How do I settle estate
Asked on July 2, 2009 under Estate Planning, Kentucky
Answers:
B. B., Member, New Jersey Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
You will have to fill out the petition form, and probably pay a small fee, to get what most states call "letters of administration," which would make you the administrator, or personal representative, of your mother's estate. That would give you the right to the bank account (for the estate) and you could put that money into a new account or use it to buy money orders to pay her utilities bills, and distribute the rest to her children in equal shares (which is probably the law, for property of people who die without a will).
For more details, you will need to talk to an attorney in your area. One place to find a qualified probate lawyer is our website, http://attorneypages.com
B. B., Member, New Jersey Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
You will have to fill out the petition form, and probably pay a small fee, to get what most states call "letters of administration," which would make you the administrator, or personal representative, of your mother's estate. That would give you the right to the bank account (for the estate) and you could put that money into a new account or use it to buy money orders to pay her utilities bills, and distribute the rest to her children in equal shares (which is probably the law, for property of people who die without a will).
For more details, you will need to talk to an attorney in your area. One place to find a qualified probate lawyer is our website, http://attorneypages.com
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