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<p>What are your comments on claiming that a person<font
face="Arial, sans-serif">, apart from his interest as a
beneficiary of the estate or trust, who is </font>nominated
as Personal Representative can claim to be a "successor" under
11.62 (again, solely based on his position as the nominated PR)?
How about the person named as successor trustee of a trust? This
case involves a surviving spouse's recent death and the oldest
son being the first living nominated PR of a pour-over will
& first living nominated Trustee of a pre-existing revocable
living trust. <br>
</p>
<p>The definition is <br>
</p>
<p> (2)(a) "Successor" and "successors" shall mean (subject
to subsection (2)(b) of this section): (i) That person or those
persons who are entitled to the claimed property pursuant to the
terms and provisions of the last will and testament of the
decedent or by virtue of the laws of intestate succession
contained in this title; and/or</p>
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<p>I think the questions resolve to "Is a nominated personal
representative entitled to the estate property?" and, "Is a
nominated trustee entitled to the trust property?" Of course,
each actor has a fiduciary duty to carry out his appointed job,
but is he first "entitled" to the property over which he is to
exercise control (even where that control is to give it to someone
else)? I think the answer is yes, but I think the Small Estate
process is designed to allow the ultimate beneficiaries to
circumvent at least the Personal Representative's probate role
where they've given the required state notices, paid or provided
for all debts, and agreed together on the final disposition. <br>
</p>
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<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Mark D. Mullins<br>
Attorney at Law</p>
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