Final Decree (Allen/state)

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.

Final Decree (Allen/state) is a commonly used form within Indiana. 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 Final Decree (Allen/state)

Sometimes it’s tough to find a quick summary— here’s the important details you should know about Final Decree (Allen/state):

• This form pertains to the State of Indiana

• The current version of this form was last revised on March 19, 2024

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 Indiana’s Form Final Decree (Allen/state) up to date, certain details can change from time-to-time with little or no communication.

Step 1 - Download the correct Indiana 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 Indiana 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 Final Decree (Allen/state), take a break, and then review. Probate and estate settlement processes in IN 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 Final Decree (Allen/state) 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 Final Decree (Allen/state) 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?

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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 Indiana.

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

1. The sooner you begin, the faster Indiana 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 Indiana. 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 Indiana 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 Indiana 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 Indiana probate clerk or court for exact answers regarding Form Final Decree (Allen/state), and when in doubt— consult a qualified trust & estates lawyer for that area.

Final Decree (Allen/state) is one of the many probate court forms available for download through Atticus.

It may also be available through some Indiana 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 Indiana.

While Atticus automatically provides the latest forms, be sure to choose the correct version of Form Final Decree (Allen/state) 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 Indiana probate court office.

Final Decree (Allen/state) 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 Indiana-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 Indiana Form Final Decree (Allen/state). You can use this to get an idea of the context of the form and what type of information is needed.

Final Decree in Estate 08/2015 STATE OF INDIANA ) ) SS: COUNTY OF _________________ ) IN RE: THE ESTATE OF ) ) ) ______________________________________ ) On the _______ day of _________________, _____________, the personal representative, _________________________________, submitted the final account, petition to settle and allow account and for authority to distribute estate, to the Court for hearing. The Court, being fully advised and no objections being filed, now finds: 1.Due notice of the filing of said account and petition, and of the hearing on the same were given to all persons interested in said estate, and the same are now properly before the Court for final action. 2.The matters stated in the account and petition are true and the personal representative has accounted for all of the assets in this estate coming into its hands. 3.More than nine months have elapsed since the decedent’s death or more than three months have elapsed since the date of the first published notice to the heirs and creditors of said decedent; all claims filed against the estate have been paid and discharged; neither said decedent nor his personal representative were employers of labor within the meaning of that term as used in the Indiana Employment Security Act; that [all estate taxes have been paid] [no estate taxes were due]; and that [a countersigned receipt is attached to said final report] [no inheritance tax was due the State of Indiana]. 4.(Any other finding of facts required by the particular circumstances.) It is therefore ORDERED AND DECREED by the Court as follows: 1.Said report and account of said personal representative is hereby in all things approved, settled, and confirmed. 2.Said personal representative is hereby directed to distribute and pay over the balance of the personal property in his hands and distribute same to the persons and in the amounts or in kind as proposed in said final report. IN THE ______________ SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CAUSE NUMBER: FINAL DECREE Final Decree in Estate 08/2015 3.Pursuant to decedent’s will [__ and codicils] or pursuant to the Laws of Descent, the real estate which was undisposed of by sale or otherwise during the period of this administration is vested in the following named persons: [Name persons and describe real estate.] ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Except as to real estate located in __________ County, Indiana, said personal representative is hereby directed to procure and to record in the office of the County Recorder, in each county in which said real estate is located, a certified copy of this final decree. 4.Said personal representative is directed to file a Supplemental Report of Distribution and attaché receipts and vouchers showing that distribution and payment of the balance of the assets in its hands have been distributed, pursuant to the terms of this order; and that said personal representative has carried out the provisions of this final decree. [If distribution is complete and no supplemental report is required, strike out the above paragraph.] Date: _______________________________________ ____________________________________________________ Judge, _______________ Superior court