Vermont allows heirs to file an affidavit of heirship to claim personal property such as bank accounts, vehicles, heirlooms, and debts owed the decedent such as final paychecks. However, the value of all said property may not exceed $45,000, or the estate will go to probate court to be divided up by a judge. Although creditors cannot file this affidavit in Vermont, heirs will be responsible for using the estate to repay the loved one’s debts. There is no waiting period to file the affidavit, per Vt. Stat. Ann., tit. 14, § 1902.
How to Write
Step 1 – Download in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word (.doc).
Step 2 – Fill-in the following blanks respectively:
- Identify all heirs of the estate
- Your legal name and address
- List your relationship with the decedent
- Timeline of relationship
- Name of any/all spouses including date(s) or marriage, divorce, and death (if any)
- Name of any/all children including date(s) or marriage, divorce, and death (if any)
- Name of any/all grandchildren including date(s) or marriage, divorce, and death (if any)
- Name of any/all parents including date(s) or marriage, divorce, and death (if any)
- Name of any/all brothers & sisters including date(s) or marriage, divorce, and death (if any)
- Name of any/all nieces & nephews including date(s) or marriage, divorce, and death (if any)
Step 3 – Sign the document before a notary public, and file with a copy of the death certificate.
