New Mexico Statutes 45-3-1002. Formal proceedings terminating testate administration;
order construing will without adjudicating testacy.
Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 45-3-1002
- Decedent: A deceased person.
- Intestate: Dying without leaving a will.
- Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
A. A personal representative administering an estate under an informally probated will, or any devisee under an informally probated will, may petition for an order of settlement of the estate which will not adjudicate the testacy status of the decedent. The personal representative may petition at any time, and a devisee may petition after one year from the appointment of the original personal representative, except that no petition under this section may be entertained until the time for presenting claims which arose prior to the death of the decedent has expired.
B. The petition may request the district court to consider the final account or compel or approve an accounting and distribution, to construe the will and adjudicate final settlement and distribution of the estate.
C. After notice to all devisees and the personal representative and hearing, the district court may enter an order or orders, on appropriate conditions, determining the persons entitled to distribution of the estate under the will and, as circumstances require, approving settlement and directing or approving distribution of the estate and discharging the personal representative from further claim or demand of any devisee who is a party to the proceeding and those he represents.
D. If it appears that a part of the estate is to pass intestate, the proceedings shall be dismissed or amendments made to meet the provisions of Section 3-1001 [45-3-1001 N.M. Stat. Ann.].