Small Estate Frequently Asked Questions

In Indiana, a small estate is an estate that has a value of $100,000 or less after liens, encumbrances, and reasonable funeral expenses are subtracted. All joint assets and beneficiary designations are not included in the $100,000 estate amount. Beneficiary designations include life insurance and joint assets. Joint assets are things like joint bank accounts and property that the deceased and someone else owned together.

You have to probate a Will through the court and this form will not help you to do that.

If someone has died you might have rights to part of their estate, even if they do not have a will. For example, if your deceased spouse had a bank account in only their name, and their entire estate is worth less than $100,000, you might use this form to get the money out of that account. Or, if someone has died and the estate is worth less than $100,000, you might complete the form in order to get paid for a debt the deceased owed you. If you use the form to collect, you are responsible for sharing the money with anyone else that might have a right to it.