There are three primary types of probate administration:

• Formal Administration: This is necessary if the value of the estate is more than $75,000. An interested party or executor can ask the court in the county where the decedent was living at the time of their death to be appointed as a personal representative. Beneficiaries and heirs must be given notice so that they can object or file a will contest. The will must be filed with the court and proven valid by the witnesses to the will, unless the will is self-proving.
• Summary Administration: If the value of the estate is $75,000 or less, or the death occurred more than two years ago, summary administration might be appropriate. Whoever was named as the executor in the will, or whoever inherits the property, can file a Petition for Summary Administration. The petition will state that the estate qualifies for summary administration, list assets and their value, and name who will inherit which assets. The court will issue an order to release the property to whoever inherited it instead of appointing a personal representative for the estate.
• Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration: This only applies to a narrow set of circumstances in which no real estate is involved, and the only assets are exempt from creditors’ claims or are less than the amount of final expenses. With this process, whoever paid for the funeral and any medical expenses connected to the death can be reimbursed from the assets.