My mother's will was very well detailed, she owns very little of value, and the siblings are all working well together. She has no bills to be paid other than the loan on her lake cabin. It is the only piece of her estate that needs to be changed into someone else's name. Do we have to lock down all of her accounts, send out letters to creditors, and go through a full probate or would she qualify for the informal probate/appointment proceedings or collection of personal property by affidavit?
Contact a local probate attorney. In most states a small estate can only be used if there is no Will. "Collection of personal property by affidavit" by relatives is ineffective.
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