Personal Representative Duties and Responsibilities
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Personal Representative Basics
Bond
Picking a Personal Representative (Priority)
Problems with the Personal Representative
Notice of Starting a Case
Personal Representative Responsibilities
Closing Case & Ending Appointment
Personal Representative Basics
- What is a Personal Representative?
- Does the court supervise the Personal Representative?
- Who can serve as the Personal Representative?
- Can two people share the job of Personal Representative?
- I don’t live in Alaska. Can I still be the Personal Representative?
- I am named as the Personal Representative in the Will. Do I need to file a probate case?
- Is the person who files the probate case automatically the personal representative?
- Does it matter how old the Personal Representative is?
Bond Questions
- Do I have to file a bond to be appointed Personal Representative?
- How is the bond amount determined?
- What do I file if all heirs and devisees agree to waive the bond requirement?
- How do I file a bond?
- How do I get the bond back?
- Can I ask the Personal Representative to post bond if I am an heir, beneficiary or creditor?
Picking a Personal Representative (Priority)
- What is priority to serve as Personal Representative?
- I am named as the Personal Representative in the Will. Do I need to file a probate case?
- If I have priority to serve as Personal Representative, do I have to serve?
- If I don’t have priority, can I serve as the Personal Representative?
- What do I file to be appointed as Personal Representative?
Problems with the Personal Representative
Notice of Starting a Case
- Do I need to notify anyone that I am filing documents to start a probate case?
- How do I “give notice” to someone?
- Can a person waive notice that I am filing documents to start a probate case?
- How far in advance does a person filing documents to start a probate case have to send notice of a court hearing?
- Who can file a Demand for Notice?
- What does the Personal Representative do if someone files a Demand for Notice?
- What other practical things should the Personal Representative consider when starting a probate case?
Personal Representative Responsibilities
- What are the Personal Representative's responsibilities?
- What powers does the Personal Representative have?
- What duties does a Personal Representative owe to interested persons?
- What is the Information to Heirs and Devisees?
- What tax documents do I need to file with the IRS?
- What is a Notice to Creditors?
- What do I do when the creditor claim period ends?
- What are Allowances and Exempt Property?
- What is a Disclaimer?
- What is a "qualified" disclaimer?
- Where does the property go if I disclaim it?
- When should I transfer property to the persons who inherit it?
- Does the Personal Representative have the right to be paid?
- How does the court decide whether a Personal Representative fee is reasonable?
- Are individuals and businesses protected if they deal with the Personal Representative?
- Where can I find more information about the different Personal Representative tasks?