Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Indiana

Re: When to open an estate

Further to Ms. Wunder's response, here is the link to the relevant sections of the Probate Code:

http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title29/ar1/ch8.html

Re: When to open an estate

By statute, a decedent's estate which has a probate value of $25,000 less liens & encumbrances and the cost of the funeral and of administration must be subject to probate. Presumptively he had both a revocable trust and a will and one "poured" over into the other. If what he owed in his own name does not exceed the $25,000 level, then the successor trustee (or executor of the will) can merely proceed to pay bills and settle matters according to the trust.