Inventory Instructions (New Castle County) (New Castle)

There are all sorts of forms executors, beneficiaries, and probate court clerks have to fill out and correspond with during probate and estate settlement, including affidavits, letters, petitions, summons, orders, and notices.

Inventory Instructions (New Castle County) (New Castle) is a commonly used form within Delaware. Here’s an overview of what the form is and means, including a breakdown of the situations when (or why) you may need to use it:

Atticus Fast Facts About Inventory Instructions (New Castle County) (New Castle)

Sometimes it’s tough to find a quick summary— here’s the important details you should know about Inventory Instructions (New Castle County) (New Castle):

• This form pertains to the State of Delaware

Government forms are not typically updated often, though when they are, it often happens rather quietly. While Atticus works hard to keep this information about Delaware’s Form Inventory Instructions (New Castle County) (New Castle) up to date, certain details can change from time-to-time with little or no communication.

Step 1 - Download the correct Delaware form based on the name and ID if applicable

Double check that you have both the correct form name and the correct form ID. Some Delaware probate forms can look remarkably similar, so it’s best to double, even triple-check that you’re using the right one! Keep in mind that not all States have a standardized Form ID system for their probate forms.

Step 2 - Complete the Document

Fill out all relevant fields in Form Inventory Instructions (New Castle County) (New Castle), take a break, and then review. Probate and estate settlement processes in DE are long enough to begin with, and making a silly error can push your timeline even farther back. No thank you!

Note: If you don’t currently know all of the answers and are accessing Form Inventory Instructions (New Castle County) (New Castle) online, be sure to avoid closing the browser tab and potentially losing all your progress (or use a platform like Atticus to help avoid making mistakes).

Step 3 - Have Form witnessed or notarized (if required)

Some States and situations require particular forms to be notarized. If you have been instructed to get the document notarized or see it in writing on the document, then make sure to hire a local notary. There are max notary fees in the United States that are defined and set by local law. Take a look at our full guide to notary fees to make sure you aren’t overpaying or getting ripped off.

Step 4 - Submit Inventory Instructions (New Castle County) (New Castle) to the relevant office

This is most often the local probate court where the decedent (person who passed away) is domiciled (permanently resides) or the institution involved with this particular form (e.g. a bank). Some offices allow you to submit forms online, other’s don’t, and we while we generally recommend going in-person to expedite the process, sometimes that simply isn’t an option.

It’s also a generally good idea to establish a positive working relationship with any probate clerk (unfortunately there’s enough people & process out there making things more difficult and unnecessarily confusing for them), so a best practice is to simply ask the probate clerk proactively exactly how and where they’d prefer you to submit all forms.

Need help getting in touch with a local probate court or identifying a domicile probate jurisdiction?

👉 Find and Contact your Local Probate Court

👉 What is a Domicile Jurisdiction?

Sponsored by Atticus App

Need help with Delaware Probate?

Join all the other families who have trusted Atticus through probate, and experience the peace that comes from knowing you're taking the right steps, spending the least amount of money, and not wasting a single second.

Start for free

Different probate forms or processes can require different deadlines or response times for completing the appropriate form.

While some steps in the process are bound to specific deadlines (like petitioning for probate, having to submit an inventory of assets, or filing applicable notices to creditors and beneficiaries), many probate forms or processes are not tied to a specific deadline since the scope of work can vary based on situational factors or requirements involved.

Either way, there are a bunch of practical reasons why personal representatives should work to complete each step as thoroughly and quickly as possible when completing probate in Delaware.

5 reasons you should submit this form as quickly as possible:

1. The sooner you begin, the faster Delaware can allow heirs and beneficiaries to get their share of assets subject to probate. Acting promptly can also decrease the costs & overall mental fatigue through an otherwise burdensome process.
   
   Helpful Context: What’s the Difference Between Probate and Non-Probate Assets?

2. In general, creditors of an estate usually have around 3-6 months from the time you file notice to creditors to file any claims for debt against the deceased’s assets. If they don’t, then that debt is forfeited (and more importantly, the executor won’t be held personally responsible). So doing this sooner means you have a better idea of who is owed what and ensures you won’t get a surprise collector months later.

3. Not filing a will within 30 days (on average) could mean that the probate process proceeds according to intestate laws (laws that govern what happens to someone's stuff without a will) or is subject to unnecessary supervision by the probate court. And if you aren't directly related to the deceased (a.k.a. next of kin), this could also mean you lose your inheritance.

4. It’s important to file any necessary state tax returns on behalf of the deceased or estate by the following tax season in Delaware. If you don’t, you could owe penalties and interest. This also includes any necessary federal tax returns such as Forms 1040, 1041, or even a Form 706 estate tax return.

5. If a house in the State of Delaware is left empty (or abandoned) for a while, insurance can get dicey. For example, if the house burns down and no one has been there for a year, an insurance company may get out of paying your claim.

If you’re not using Atticus to get specific forms, deadlines, and timelines for Delaware probate, then try and stay as organized as possible, pay close attention to the dates mentioned in any correspondence you have with the State’s government officials, call the local Delaware probate clerk or court for exact answers regarding Form Inventory Instructions (New Castle County) (New Castle), and when in doubt— consult a qualified trust & estates lawyer for that area.

Inventory Instructions (New Castle County) (New Castle) is one of the many probate court forms available for download through Atticus.

It may also be available through some Delaware probate court sites, such as . In order to access the latest version, be updated with any revisions, and get full instructions on how to complete each form, check out the Atticus Probate & Estate Settlement software or consider hiring a qualified legal expert locally within Delaware.

While Atticus automatically provides the latest forms, be sure to choose the correct version of Form Inventory Instructions (New Castle County) (New Castle) f using any other site or resource in order to avoid having to re-complete the form process and/or make another trip to the Delaware probate court office.

Inventory Instructions (New Castle County) (New Castle) is a .pdf, so opening it should be as simple as clicking “View Form” from within the Atticus app or by clicking the appropriate link found on any Delaware-provided government platform. Once you’ve opened the form, you should be able to directly edit the form before saving or printing.

Here’s the text, verbatim, that is found on Delaware Form Inventory Instructions (New Castle County) (New Castle). You can use this to get an idea of the context of the form and what type of information is needed.

Louis L. Redding City/County Bldg. 800 North French Street, 2 nd Floor Wilmington, DE 19801 INVENTORY INSTRUCTIONS DUE: 3 Months after opening Filing fee: PREPAID Phone: 302-395-7800 Fax: 302-395-7801 Website: www.nccde.org/wills An inventory is a listing of the decedent’s assets valued at date of death. The personal representative (executor or administrator) must submit an inventory within three (3) months of the granting of the letters (opening of the estate). The inventory consists of a cover page, five schedules, and a recapitulation page. Please read “General Instructions” on the inventory before completing the form. **Be aware of your due date. Overdue documents will be charged a late fee. **If you require additional time to complete this form, submit an extension request form to our office before the due date. **If there are no assets matching the description on a schedule, write “None”. Do not remove the page. **There should be no negative numbers on the inventory. **Go to https://www.nccde.org/681/Forms for fillable and non-fillable versions of the inventory, the extension request form, and a sample inventory. Cover Page 1. Decedent’s Name: Full name of the person who passed away. 2. Residence at time of death: Full address, including city, state and zip code, of the last residence of the decedent. 3. Date of Death: Month, day, and year the person passed away. 4. Testate or Intestate: Testate means the decedent had a will; intestate means that he/she did not. 5. Date Letters Granted: Month, day and year estate was opened. 6. County: New Castle 7. Name, Address, Phone Number and Email of Personal Representative: Full name, address (including city state and zip code), best phone number and best email address of the person handling the estate. If there are two people handling the estate, fill that person’s information in on the next set of lines (name, address, best phone number and best email address). 9. Name and Address of Attorney, if any: List the name and address of the attorney if he/she is assisting with probate. If there is no attorney, write “pro se”. 10. Have you previously filed an inventory for this estate? Mark yes if you have previously filed an inventory. Mark no if this is the first inventory to be filed for the estate. Schedule A – SOLE REAL ESTATE If the decedent had no solely owned real estate, write “None”. Mobile homes and cemetery plots are not considered real estate (these would be listed on Schedule E). 1. Item No.: Number properties (1, 2, 3, etc.) if there is more than one property. 2. Description: Enter the complete address(es) of the individual piece(s) of real estate located in the State of Delaware, along with parcel numbers (call the appropriate county Treasury office if you do not know). BELOW EACH PROPERTY, LIST THE FULL NAME(S), RELATIONSHIP TO DECEASED, AND COMPLETE ADDRESS(ES) OF THOSE TO WHOM THE PROPERTY PASSES. Also include the percent/portion of the property each person inherits. The will (or if there is no will, the intestate laws of Delaware) determine to whom the property passes. Follow the directions in the will (or intestate laws). If you don’t know to whom the property passes, consult with an attorney. This is not a matter of discretion and it is important that the list of heirs be accurate. If the property has been sold, the Register of Wills still needs to know how title passed upon death. If the will directs the property to be sold, write “To Be Sold”. 3. Value at Date of Death: Enter an appraisal/fair market value in the right-hand column for each piece of real estate listed. The value of the real estate is determined by what the property could have sold for at the time the decedent died. 4. Tax Bill: Enter the name and address to whom the tax bills should be mailed. If this is left blank, the inventory will be rejected/returned to you. 5. Total: Add the column and enter the total in the box at the bottom right hand corner of the page. 6. Estate: Decedent’s full name to be written at bottom of page. Schedule B – JOINTLY OWNED ASSETS Real estate, monies, or any other asset owned jointly with anyone. 1. A, B, & C: These rows are for listing the names, relationships, and addresses of each surviving joint owner of assets with the decedent. If more space is needed, an additional page may be added. 2. Item No.: Number the jointly owned assets (1, 2, 3, etc.) if there is more than one. 3. Description: List individual items here. Items may include real estate, bank accounts, mobile homes, stocks, bonds, boats, trailers, cars, household goods, antiques, etc. List anything that is jointly owned. Place the letter of the joint owner (from above) beside each item. 4. Fair market value at the date of death: Value (or estimated value) of each item at the date of death. 5. Total: Add the column and enter the total in the box at the bottom right hand corner of the page. 6. Estate: Decedent’s full name to be written at bottom of page. Schedule C – BANK ACCOUNTS AND CASH 1. Item No.: Number items (1, 2, 3, etc.) if there is more than one. 2. Description: List cash, checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, and money OWED TO DECEDENT. A bank account held jointly for convenience of the decedent only is considered a solely held asset and should be listed here. Please list name of bank/financial institution but it is not necessary to list actual account numbers. 3. Fair Market Value at date of death: What the asset was worth at the date of death. 4. Total: Add the column and enter the total in the box in the bottom right hand corner of the page. 5. Estate: Decedent’s full name to be written at bottom of page. Schedule D – STOCKS AND BONDS Complete only if stocks and bonds are solely held. Do not list anything with a living beneficiary designated with the holding company. If none, enter none. 1. Item No.: Number items (1, 2, 3, etc.) if there is more than one. 2. Description: Enter all stocks and bonds separately. “Bonds” are savings bonds, municipal bonds, etc. If the bond has a POD or pay on death designation on the front, it does not need to be listed. Sample labels/descriptions: “63 shares General Motors Corporation stock” or “Merrill Lynch mutual fund”. 3. Fair Market Value: Balance of the asset at time of death (determined by price per share at date of death). 4. Total: Add the value of assets and enter the total in the box at the bottom right hand corner. 5. Estate: Decedent’s full name to be written at bottom of page. Schedule E – VEHICLES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROPERTY This page includes any items not listed on previous pages that are solely owned or payable to the Estate. Examples: mobile homes, RVs, cars (year/make/model), cemetery plots, household goods and contents, furniture, jewelry, antiques, collectibles and collections, excluding clothing. Value may need to be estimated by the personal representative (resale/garage sale value) or for higher value items, an appraiser. You should not list jointly owned assets (list these on Schedule D). Only list employee death benefits, life insurance proceeds, individual retirement accounts, and annuities WITHOUT LIVING NAMED BENEFICIARIES OR THAT ARE PAYABLE TO THE ESTATE. Recapitulation: Transfer each schedule’s totals to the appropriate line on the Recapitulation page. The lines are in order of the schedules. Add Schedules A and B for “Total of Sole Real Estate and Joint Assets”. Add Schedules C, D, and E for “Total of Probate Assets”. This total is starred and boxed because you will need this figure for the NC30 Accounting form. Please do not round any figures. Also, please double check your figures for accuracy. Oath or Affirmation of Personal Representative: On the first line enter the personal representative(s) name, then enter the decedent’s name on the next line. The signature of the personal representative must be notarized, so do not sign ahead of time. Sign in front of a notary in the Register of Wills office or a regular public notary. Make sure to bring your photo ID. Filing Instructions: The inventory may be dropped off or mailed to the Register of Wills office at the address on the front. If the inventory needs correction, it will be returned to you. There is a $10 penalty for the third time the inventory is returned to you for correction. Note that there is a $1 fee per additional page filed with the inventory. Check the status of your inventory at http://www3.nccde.org/will/search/. Enter the six digit file number or the last name of the decedent in the appropriate field to view the date the inventory was logged as filed. More assets located after filing the inventory: In the event that new assets are found after the Inventory has been filed, an “Amended Inventory” may be filed for $15.00 or they may be listed on the Accounting.