§560:3-1204  Small estates; closing
by sworn statement of personal representative.  (a)  Unless prohibited by
order of the court and except for estates being administered by supervised
personal representatives, a personal representative may close an estate
administered under the summary procedures of section 560:3-1203 by filing with
the court, at any time after disbursement and distribution of the estate, a
verified statement stating that:



(1)  To the best knowledge of the personal
representative, the value of the entire estate, less liens and encumbrances,
did not exceed homestead allowance, exempt property, family allowance, costs
and expenses of administration, reasonable funeral expenses, and reasonable,
necessary medical and hospital expenses of the last illness of the decedent;



(2)  The personal representative has fully
administered the estate by disbursing and distributing it to the persons
entitled thereto; and



(3)  The personal representative has sent a copy of
the closing statement to all distributees of the estate and to all creditors or
other claimants of whom the personal representative is aware whose claims are
neither paid nor barred and has furnished a full account in writing of the
administration to the distributees whose interests are affected.



(b)  If no actions or proceedings involving the
personal representative are pending in the court one year after the closing
statement is filed, the appointment of the personal representative terminates.



(c)  A closing statement filed under this section
has the same effect as one filed under section 560:3-1003. [L 1996, c 288, pt
of §1]