2013 -- S 0285 AS AMENDED

=======

LC01067

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO PROBATE PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - CLAIMS AGAINST

DECEDENTS' ESTATES

     

     

     Introduced By: Senators Jabour, Lombardi, and McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1-1

     SECTION 1. Section 33-11-5.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 33-11 entitled "Claims

1-2

Against Decedents' Estates" is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-3

     33-11-5.1. Duty to notify known or reasonably ascertainable creditors. -- (a) If the

1-4

identity of a creditor of the decedent's is known to or reasonably ascertainable by the personal

1-5

representative, the personal representative shall, within a reasonable period of time after

1-6

qualification, take such steps as are reasonably necessary to ensure that such creditor receives or

1-7

has received actual notice of the commencement of the decedent's estate. The sending of a notice

1-8

in the form contained in subsection (b) by the personal representative to the creditor at his/her or

1-9

its last known address, by first class mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed a means, but not the

1-10

exclusive means, of satisfying the requirements of this section. The personal representative is not

1-11

liable to a creditor or to a successor personal representative of the decedent for giving or failing to

1-12

give notice under this section. (b) A personal representative shall be conclusively presumed to

1-13

have complied with this section by sending a written notice in substantially the following form:

1-14

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND PROBATE COURT OF

1-15

     COUNTY OF ______________ THE __________________

1-16

     ESTATE OF (NAME OR ESTATE) (NO.)__________________

1-17

     NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROBATE

1-18

     To: (Name of Creditor)

2-19

     (last known address of creditor)

2-20

     Notice is hereby given by (name of personal representative) that a probate estate has been

2-21

commenced for (name of decedent) in the Probate Court of the (name of municipality, address of

2-22

court) docket no. __________, said (name of fiduciary) having been qualified on (date of

2-23

qualification).

2-24

      A creditor must present a written statement of the claim indicating its basis, the amount

2-25

claimed, the name and address of the claimant, and the name and address of the claimant's

2-26

attorney (if any) within six (6) months after qualification. Claims should be mailed to the personal

2-27

representative or attorney named below and filed with the clerk of the probate court.

2-28

      _________________________________

2-29

      Name and address of

2-30

      Estate Personal Representative or

2-31

Attorney

2-32

      ______________________________

2-33

      Date

2-34

      (c) In all cases where the decedent was fifty-five (55) years or older at the time of death,

2-35

the personal representatives shall give notice as required by this section to the executive office of

2-36

health and human services in accordance with section 40-8-15.

2-37

     SECTION 2. Section 33-22-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 33-22 entitled "Practice in

2-38

Probate Courts" is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-39

     33-22-3. Notice given by petitioner on filing of petition and hearing. -- In addition to

2-40

the notice prescribed by section 33-7-9, and to notice by publication in the manner as prescribed

2-41

by section 33-22-11, the petitioner or his or her attorney shall, at least ten (10) days before the

2-42

date set for hearing on the petition, send or cause to be sent by mail, postage prepaid, addressed to

2-43

each person whose name and post office address is by section 33-22-2(3) required to be set forth

2-44

in the petition, as the names and addresses are set forth therein or as then known to the petitioner,

2-45

and when the decedent was fifty-five (55) years or older to the executive office of health and

2-46

human services and in accordance with section 40-8-15, notice of the filing, the nature of the

2-47

petition, and of the time and place set for hearing on the petition, or in lieu thereof a copy of the

2-48

newspaper notice published pursuant to the provisions of section 33-22-11; provided, however,

2-49

that in the case of any person entitled to notice hereunder whose post office address is outside the

2-50

continental limits of the United States this notice shall be sent at least three (3) weeks before the

2-51

date set for the hearing; and provided further that the petitioner or his or her attorney shall not be

2-52

required to send this notice to any person sui juris who shall at, or prior to, the hearing waive

2-53

notice of its pendency in writing either on the petition or by instrument separately filed. The

2-54

petitioner or his or her attorney shall at or prior to the hearing file or cause to be filed an affidavit

3-1

that the notice was given, setting forth the names and post office addresses of the persons to

3-2

whom the notice was sent and the date of mailing of the notice, together with a copy of the notice.

3-3

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall apply to all pending and

3-4

future petitions.

     

=======

LC01067

========

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO PROBATE PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - CLAIMS AGAINST

DECEDENTS' ESTATES

***

4-1

     This act would require that when a decedent is fifty-five (55) years or older that notice be

4-2

sent to the executive office of health and human services in accordance with section 40-8-15.

4-3

     This act would take effect upon passage and would apply to all pending and future

4-4

petitions.

     

=======

LC01067

=======

S0285