Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.
Detailed Answer
Under Vermont law, a personal representative (PR) must file regular accountings of estate administration with the Probate Division. 14 V.S.A. § 1231 requires fiduciaries to file an accounting showing all receipts, disbursements, and distributions. After filing, the PR must notify all interested persons—heirs, devisees, and creditors under 14 V.S.A. § 91—no later than 30 days following the filing of each account, per 14 V.S.A. § 1245.
Once you receive notice, you have the right to inspect the filed accounting at the probate court clerk’s office. You may also request a certified copy of the account for a reasonable copying fee. If the PR declines to provide you with a copy, you may petition the court to compel production under 14 V.S.A. § 1249.
If the PR fails to file the required account within the statutory time frame, interested persons may move the court to compel an accounting or, in severe cases, remove the PR from further administration. Courts enforce these duties to protect beneficiaries’ and creditors’ interests.
Helpful Hints
- Review the notice carefully for deadlines to object or request a hearing.
- Keep records of all communications and written requests made to the PR.
- If you cannot afford copying fees, ask the court clerk about fee waivers for indigent parties.
- Use the probate division’s local forms when petitioning to compel an accounting.
- Consider consulting an attorney if the PR repeatedly fails to comply with statutory duties.