Free Notice to Creditors

It is the notice a personal representative gives after appointment so creditors of the estate know where and by when to present claims. In most states it is published in a newspaper, and known creditors receive a copy directly. The notice starts (or shortens) the claim period — after it runs, late claims are barred.

It depends on the state. In most states the personal representative prepares the notice and places it with a qualifying newspaper; in some, the representative completes the state's own form and the court arranges the run, or the notice is a written notice delivered directly to known creditors. This tool prepares the notice document in the 42 of 51 jurisdictions where the representative completes one. In the remaining 9, the court or clerk handles publication with no representative-completed document, or there is no publication step — the state page explains the procedure instead.

Some states publish an official notice form, which we complete for you. Others enumerate the required contents in statute, so the notice is drafted to those elements — which we generate, with the statutory checklist printed alongside. Select your state to see which applies.

Publication alone does not bar the claims of known creditors — under Tulsa Professional Collection Services v. Pope, 485 U.S. 478 (1988), known and reasonably ascertainable creditors are entitled to actual notice. Many states require mailed notice by statute. The download includes a mailed notice for each known creditor you list.

Each state sets a claim period — commonly measured from first publication of the notice, and in some states from the date of death or the opening of the estate. The prepared notice states your state's deadline with its statutory citation.