Opinion ID: 2199033
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Czech Probate Procedure.

Text: Probate proceedings under Czech law are quite different from ours. There is no executor or administrator. A will is an instrument disposing of all the estate or of a fractional part of all the estate. A codicil bequeaths legacies, but does not name heirs. The instrument left by Thomas Bata was therefore a codicil. Nevertheless, we shall for convenience refer to it as the will. If the testator leaves only a codicil, his heirs succeed to his entire estate as universal successors, and are responsible for the payment of legacies. After the death of a decedent there is a period of suspense in the settlement of the estate until the heirs come forward in the appropriate court and make a declaration of heirship. Once this is done, the probate court then determines, upon considering the testamentary documents, whether or not the declarants are truly the heirs of the decedent. If the document bequeaths only legacies then the determination by the court is that the declaring heirs are intestate heirs. Once the heirs have been established, they have an option to proceed in either of two ways. They may take the decedent's estate with benefit of inventory, which means that the assets of the estate are appraised and listed, and thereafter the heirs are liable to the decedent's creditors only to the extent of the appraised estate. The second alternative is for the heirs to accept the decedent's estate unconditionally. This means that the heirs succeed to all of the property of the decedent of whatsoever kind, conditioned upon their obligation to pay and discharge all debts and legacies. The heirs file an unsworn statement of assets, called a statement in lieu of oath. It is highly significant that if the heirs accept an estate unconditionally, the probate court does not inquire into the extent of the estate by means of an inventory. If they accept the estate conditionally, then a valuation of the estate is required under Czech probate practice. If one or more of the heirs is a minor at the time the declaration of heirship is made, then the probate court will not permit an unconditional acceptance of the estate in behalf of the minor but will insist upon an inventory and valuation of the estate. The reason for this is obvious, i. e., the court will not permit a minor to be saddled with excess debts over the property he is to receive. One further feature of Czech probate law should be noted. A decedent may not disinherit his children. This means, in the case of Thomas Bata, that his son, Tom, was entitled to 3/8 of the value of the entire estate. Upon completion of these proceedings, the estate is delivered to the heirs by deed of delivery signed by the court. This deed under Czech law has the effect of vesting in the heirs title to all the estate, whether or not mentioned in the deed.