After the death of a loved one, a Personal Representative is appointed to handle the affairs of the deceased person’s estate. The duties of a Personal Representative in Indiana can vary depending on the specific circumstances of the estate but typically include the following:
 Identifying and Inventorying Assets. The Personal Representative is responsible for identifying and locating all of a decedent’s assets, such as bank accounts, real estate, personal property, and investments.
 Protecting and Preserving Assets During the Probate Process. The Personal Representative must also manage and protect these assets throughout the probate process. For example, if a home is part of an estate, the Personal Representative will need to ensure that necessary repairs are made so that the home does not depreciate.
 Paying Debts and Taxes. The Personal Representative is tasked with paying outstanding debts or taxes owned by the estate from estate assets, including medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, and other liabilities.
 Communicating With Beneficiaries. A Personal Representative should keep all beneficiaries informed about the status of the probate process and any critical decision that need to be made.
 Having Final Tax Returns Prepared and Filed. A Personal Representative will work with a CPA or tax professional to prepare and file the final tax return for the deceased person, as well as the final tax return for the estate. The Personal Representative would have gotten a new tax identification number, called an EIN, for the estate.
 Distributing Assets to Beneficiaries. Once debts are settled, the Personal Representative must account for the assets, and then distribute any remaining assets of the estate to beneficiaries in accordance to the terms of the Will or the Intestate statute, if there is no Will.
 Filing Required Court Documents. Probate can involve significant paperwork. The Personal Representative must file all necessary court documents and reports, such as an estate inventory and a final accounting of all assets. We help prepare all of these necessary documents so the Personal Representative adheres to their fiduciary duty.
As a probate lawyer, I help Personal Representatives comply with all aspects of their duties.