How to handle the Decedent’s Creditors
Under California Probate law, one of the main duties of the executor of a probate estate is to notify the creditors of the decedent and to let them file probate creditor claims. If you have been appointed as an executor of an estate or, as an administrator of an estate, you must gather all of decedent’s bills, and present them to your attorney who will then give them a Notice to Creditors. There are strict timelines for creditors to file the creditor claim and serve it on the executor. If you can reasonably discovery a creditor, you should notify them of the death and notify your attorney that a creditor exists.
In practical terms, make a folder with all of the estate's bills. Have a running list in the front. Check each creditor who files a claim in court. Discuss with your attorney whether a particular creditor claim should be accepted or rejected, and the deadlines for the creditors to file. Also discuss the ramification of rejecting the creditors, which may result in suits by the creditor to collect the claim.
California Probate Lawyer, Mina N. Sirkin is a Probate Attorney serving Los Angeles who has been licensed to practice law in California since 1992. Ms. Sirkin is Board Certified as a specialist in probate in California. You obtain help with probate estate creditor issues by contacting us by Email: Info@SirkinLaw.com or by Telephone at 818.340.4479.