Bill > HB307

This bill establishes a new procedure for the personal representative, the individual appointed to manage a deceased person's estate, to notify potential creditors of claims against the decedent or their estate. The new section, 64.2-508.1, defines a "claim" broadly to include most debts and obligations that arose before death, with specific exclusions for certain warranties on real estate and government tax claims, as well as claims by heirs to their inheritance. The personal representative can publish a notice in a local newspaper and also personally deliver or mail a copy of this notice to any known creditors with disputed claims. This notice must include details about the decedent, the personal representative, the court where the estate is being handled, and a deadline for presenting claims, which is the later of six months after the first publication or 90 days after the creditor receives the notice. If a claim is not presented by this deadline, the personal representative's liability for that claim is limited to the assets of the estate still in their possession. The bill also amends existing sections to clarify that these new notice provisions apply to claims filed with commissioners of accounts and to reinforce that a personal representative who follows these new procedures in good faith will not be liable for claims not timely presented.