BASIC STEP
FIRST MONTH: OPEN ESTATE
1. File Petition for Probate; obtain hearing date
2. File original will and codicils, if any
3. Publish Notice of Petition to Administer
Estate
4. Mail Notice of Petition to Administer Estate
5. File proof of publication and proof of mailing
Notice of Petition to Administer Estate
6. File proof of will, if required
7. Check calendar notes
8. File Order for Probate(and probate bond,
if required)
LETTERS ISSUED:
9. File Letters and Duties and Liabiities of
Personal Representative form
NEXT 4-5 MONTHS: ADMINISTER ESTATE
10. Apply for Taxpayer Identification Number
11. Notify government agencies
12. Open estate bank account
13. Arrange for preparation of income tax
returns
14. Prepare Inventory and Appraisal and send
to Referee
15. Mail Notice of Administration to creditors;
any debts without requiring formal claims
16. File Approval or Rejection of formal Creditor's
Claims
17. File Inventory and Appraisal with court
18. File Change in Ownership Statement
with county assessor if Inventory lists
real property
19. File federal estate tax return if necessary
LAST MONTH: CLOSE ESTATE
20. File Petition for Final Distribution
21. Mail Notice of Hearing to beneficiaries
22. File proof of mailing Notice of Hearing
23. File Order for Final Distribution
24. Transfer assets and obtain receipts
25. File receipts and Affidavit for Final Discharge
Kim Ward, Broker/REALTOR®
Horizon Real Estate
*central:619.741.0111*north county:858.776.6156*
toll free:866.411.8884*fax:619.741.0112*
KimWard@ProbateSanDiego.net
TIME FRAME OR DEADLINE
1. Any time after death(no deadline or time limit)
2. Filed with Petition for Probate as separate
filing
3. Three times before hearing date; first
publication must be at least 15 days prior
to hearing
4. At least 15 days prior to hearing date
5. As early as possible before hearing date
6. As early as possible before hearing date
7. Two days or more before hearing
8. Time requirements vary between counties;
check with court
9. At same time or after filing Order for Probate
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10. As early as possible after Letters are issued
11. Within 90 days of death
12. After Letters are issued
13. As soon as possible after Letters are issued
14. As soon as possible after Letters are issued
15. Within four months after Letters are issued
or within 30 days after first discovering a
creditor
16. Any time before Petition for Final Distribution
17. Within four months after Letters are issued
18. When Inventory and Appraisal is filed
with court
19. Within nine months of date of death
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20. From four months to one year after Letters
are issued(within 18 months, if federal estate
tax return is required)
21. Within 15 days of hearing date on petition
22. As soon as possible before hearing date on
petition
23. Procedures vary between counties; check
with court
24. Any time after Order for Final Distribution is
is signed
25. After assets are distributed and all matters
concluded
