Do I have to probate a small estate?
Question Details: My mother passed and left a savings account with my name on the account; there was no Will. She told me to disburse the funds equally among my siblings, which I plan to do. The only other thing she had was a few pieces of personal property. Do I have to have have her assets declared an "estate" or something legally or can I just settle her bills and distribute her things?
I don't know how you determine small estate, but you could file a petition for small estate administration with an affidavit of the value of the property. But in light of what your are saying, I would probably do as mom requested, and be done with the distribution. You may want to obtain a signed receipt of distribution from each sibling as to what the are receiving, and keep for your records.
