865.16 Closing estates by sworn statement.

(1) As an alternative to closing an estate under ch. 863, a personal representative may close an estate by filing with the probate registrar a verified statement that the personal representative, or a prior personal representative whom he or she has succeeded, has:

(a) Duly given notice to interested persons under s. 865.05 and to creditors under s. 859.07, and that the deadline for filing a claim under s. 859.01 has passed prior to the date of the statement;

(b) Fully administered the estate of the decedent by making payment, settlement or other disposition of all claims which were presented, expenses of administration, reasonable funeral and burial expenses and death and other taxes, except as expressly specified otherwise, and that the assets of the estate have been inventoried and distributed to the persons entitled to them. If any claims, expenses or taxes remain undischarged, the statement shall disclose in detail all arrangements made to accommodate the outstanding liabilities; and

(c) Sent a copy of the statement to all distributees of the estate and to all creditors or other claimants of whom the personal representative is aware whose claims are neither paid nor barred and has furnished a full account in writing of the personal representative's administration to the distributees whose interests are affected thereby.

(1m) The probate registrar may review the statement to determine whether the amount of attorney fees, if any, are just and reasonable under s. 851.40. If, in the probate registrar's judgment, the amount of such attorney fees appear unjust and unreasonable, the probate registrar shall refer the matter to the court for such proceeding or action as the court deems appropriate.

(2) If no proceedings challenging the statement or otherwise involving the personal representative are pending in the court 6 months after the statement is filed, appointment of the personal representative terminates. A personal representative who closes an estate under this subsection may comply with the accounting requirements of ch. 862.

History: 1973 c. 39; 1975 c. 329, 331, 421; 1977 c. 267; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 96; 1993 a. 486, 490.