2007 Minnesota Statutes

524.3-801 NOTICE TO CREDITORS.
(a) Unless notice has already been given under this section, upon appointment of a general
personal representative in informal proceedings or upon the filing of a petition for formal
appointment of a general personal representative, notice thereof, in the form prescribed by court
rule, shall be given under the direction of the court administrator by publication once a week for
two successive weeks in a legal newspaper in the county wherein the proceedings are pending
giving the name and address of the general personal representative and notifying creditors of
the estate to present their claims within four months after the date of the court administrator's
notice which is subsequently published or be forever barred, unless they are entitled to further
service of notice under paragraph (b) or (c).
(b)(1) Within three months after: (i) the date of the first publication of the notice; or (ii)
June 16, 1989, whichever is later, the personal representative may determine, in the personal
representative's discretion, that it is or is not advisable to conduct a reasonably diligent search for
creditors of the decedent who are either not known or not identified. If the personal representative
determines that a reasonably diligent search is advisable, the personal representative shall conduct
the search.
(2) If the notice is first published after June 16, 1989, the personal representative shall, within
three months after the date of the first publication of the notice, serve a copy of the notice upon
each then known and identified creditor in the manner provided in paragraph (c). Notice given
under paragraph (d) does not satisfy the notice requirements under this paragraph and paragraph
(c). If notice was first published under the applicable provisions of law under the direction of
the court administrator before June 16, 1989, and if a personal representative is empowered to
act at any time after June 16, 1989, the personal representative shall, within three months after
June 16, 1989, serve upon the then known and identified creditors in the manner provided in
paragraph (c) a copy of the notice as published, together with a supplementary notice requiring
each of the creditors to present any claim within one month after the date of the service of the
notice or be forever barred.
(3) Under this section, a creditor is "known" if: (i) the personal representative knows that the
creditor has asserted a claim that arose during the decedent's life against either the decedent or the
decedent's estate; or (ii) the creditor has asserted a claim that arose during the decedent's life and
the fact is clearly disclosed in accessible financial records known and available to the personal
representative. Under this section, a creditor is "identified" if the personal representative's
knowledge of the name and address of the creditor will permit service of notice to be made
under paragraph (c).
(c) The personal representative shall serve a copy of any notice and any supplementary
notice required by paragraph (b), clause (1) or (2), upon each creditor of the decedent who is then
known to the personal representative and identified, except a creditor whose claim has either been
presented to the personal representative or paid, either by delivery of a copy of the required
notice to the creditor, or by mailing a copy of the notice to the creditor by certified, registered, or
ordinary first class mail addressed to the creditor at the creditor's office or place of residence.
(d)(1) Effective for decedents dying on or after July 1, 1997, if the decedent or a
predeceased spouse of the decedent received assistance for which a claim could be filed under
section 246.53, 256B.15, 256D.16, or 261.04, the personal representative or the attorney for
the personal representative shall serve the commissioner of human services with notice in the
manner prescribed in paragraph (c) as soon as practicable after the appointment of the personal
representative. The notice must state the decedent's full name, date of birth, and Social Security
number and, to the extent then known after making a reasonably diligent inquiry, the full name,
date of birth, and Social Security number for each of the decedent's predeceased spouses. The
notice may also contain a statement that, after making a reasonably diligent inquiry, the personal
representative has determined that the decedent did not have any predeceased spouses or that
the personal representative has been unable to determine one or more of the previous items of
information for a predeceased spouse of the decedent. A copy of the notice to creditors must be
attached to and be a part of the notice to the commissioner.
(2) Notwithstanding a will or other instrument or law to the contrary, except as allowed in
this paragraph, no property subject to administration by the estate may be distributed by the estate
or the personal representative until 70 days after the date the notice is served on the commissioner
as provided in paragraph (c), unless the local agency consents as provided for in clause (6).
This restriction on distribution does not apply to the personal representative's sale of real or
personal property, but does apply to the net proceeds the estate receives from these sales. The
personal representative, or any person with personal knowledge of the facts, may provide an
affidavit containing the description of any real or personal property affected by this paragraph and
stating facts showing compliance with this paragraph. If the affidavit describes real property, it
may be filed or recorded in the office of the county recorder or registrar of titles for the county
where the real property is located. This paragraph does not apply to proceedings under sections
524.3-1203 and 525.31, or when a duly authorized agent of a county is acting as the personal
representative of the estate.
(3) At any time before an order or decree is entered under section 524.3-1001 or 524.3-1002,
or a closing statement is filed under section 524.3-1003, the personal representative or the
attorney for the personal representative may serve an amended notice on the commissioner to
add variations or other names of the decedent or a predeceased spouse named in the notice, the
name of a predeceased spouse omitted from the notice, to add or correct the date of birth or Social
Security number of a decedent or predeceased spouse named in the notice, or to correct any
other deficiency in a prior notice. The amended notice must state the decedent's name, date of
birth, and Social Security number, the case name, case number, and district court in which the
estate is pending, and the date the notice being amended was served on the commissioner. If the
amendment adds the name of a predeceased spouse omitted from the notice, it must also state
that spouse's full name, date of birth, and Social Security number. The amended notice must be
served on the commissioner in the same manner as the original notice. Upon service, the amended
notice relates back to and is effective from the date the notice it amends was served, and the time
for filing claims arising under section 246.53, 256B.15, 256D.16 or 261.04 is extended by 60
days from the date of service of the amended notice. Claims filed during the 60-day period are
undischarged and unbarred claims, may be prosecuted by the entities entitled to file those claims
in accordance with section 524.3-1004, and the limitations in section 524.3-1006 do not apply.
The personal representative or any person with personal knowledge of the facts may provide and
file or record an affidavit in the same manner as provided for in clause (1).
(4) Within one year after the date an order or decree is entered under section 524.3-1001
or 524.3-1002 or a closing statement is filed under section 524.3-1003, any person who has an
interest in property that was subject to administration by the estate may serve an amended notice
on the commissioner to add variations or other names of the decedent or a predeceased spouse
named in the notice, the name of a predeceased spouse omitted from the notice, to add or correct
the date of birth or Social Security number of a decedent or predeceased spouse named in the
notice, or to correct any other deficiency in a prior notice. The amended notice must be served on
the commissioner in the same manner as the original notice and must contain the information
required for amendments under clause (3). If the amendment adds the name of a predeceased
spouse omitted from the notice, it must also state that spouse's full name, date of birth, and
Social Security number. Upon service, the amended notice relates back to and is effective from
the date the notice it amends was served. If the amended notice adds the name of an omitted
predeceased spouse or adds or corrects the Social Security number or date of birth of the decedent
or a predeceased spouse already named in the notice, then, notwithstanding any other laws to
the contrary, claims against the decedent's estate on account of those persons resulting from the
amendment and arising under section 246.53, 256B.15, 256D.16, or 261.04 are undischarged and
unbarred claims, may be prosecuted by the entities entitled to file those claims in accordance with
section 524.3-1004, and the limitations in section 524.3-1006 do not apply. The person filing the
amendment or any other person with personal knowledge of the facts may provide and file or
record an affidavit describing affected real or personal property in the same manner as clause (1).
(5) After one year from the date an order or decree is entered under section 524.3-1001 or
524.3-1002, or a closing statement is filed under section 524.3-1003, no error, omission, or defect
of any kind in the notice to the commissioner required under this paragraph or in the process of
service of the notice on the commissioner, or the failure to serve the commissioner with notice as
required by this paragraph, makes any distribution of property by a personal representative void
or voidable. The distributee's title to the distributed property shall be free of any claims based
upon a failure to comply with this paragraph.
(6) The local agency may consent to a personal representative's request to distribute property
subject to administration by the estate to distributees during the 70-day period after service of
notice on the commissioner. The local agency may grant or deny the request in whole or in part
and may attach conditions to its consent as it deems appropriate. When the local agency consents
to a distribution, it shall give the estate a written certificate evidencing its consent to the early
distribution of assets at no cost. The certificate must include the name, case number, and district
court in which the estate is pending, the name of the local agency, describe the specific real
or personal property to which the consent applies, state that the local agency consents to the
distribution of the specific property described in the consent during the 70-day period following
service of the notice on the commissioner, state that the consent is unconditional or list all of
the terms and conditions of the consent, be dated, and may include other contents as may be
appropriate. The certificate must be signed by the director of the local agency or the director's
designees and is effective as of the date it is dated unless it provides otherwise. The signature
of the director or the director's designee does not require any acknowledgment. The certificate
shall be prima facie evidence of the facts it states, may be attached to or combined with a deed
or any other instrument of conveyance and, when so attached or combined, shall constitute a
single instrument. If the certificate describes real property, it shall be accepted for recording or
filing by the county recorder or registrar of titles in the county in which the property is located.
If the certificate describes real property and is not attached to or combined with a deed or other
instrument of conveyance, it shall be accepted for recording or filing by the county recorder or
registrar of titles in the county in which the property is located. The certificate constitutes a waiver
of the 70-day period provided for in clause (2) with respect to the property it describes and is
prima facie evidence of service of notice on the commissioner. The certificate is not a waiver or
relinquishment of any claims arising under section 246.53, 256B.15, 256D.16, or 261.04, and
does not otherwise constitute a waiver of any of the personal representative's duties under this
paragraph. Distributees who receive property pursuant to a consent to an early distribution shall
remain liable to creditors of the estate as provided for by law.
(7) All affidavits provided for under this paragraph:
(i) shall be provided by persons who have personal knowledge of the facts stated in the
affidavit;
(ii) may be filed or recorded in the office of the county recorder or registrar of titles in
the county in which the real property they describe is located for the purpose of establishing
compliance with the requirements of this paragraph; and
(iii) are prima facie evidence of the facts stated in the affidavit.
(8) This paragraph applies to the estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 1997. Clause
(5) also applies with respect to all notices served on the commissioner of human services before
July 1, 1997, under Laws 1996, chapter 451, article 2, section 55. All notices served on the
commissioner before July 1, 1997, pursuant to Laws 1996, chapter 451, article 2, section 55, shall
be deemed to be legally sufficient for the purposes for which they were intended, notwithstanding
any errors, omissions or other defects.
History: 1975 c 347 s 58; 1Sp1986 c 3 art 1 s 82; 1989 c 163 s 1; 1996 c 451 art 2 s 55;
1997 c 217 art 2 s 16; 2000 c 400 s 6