2025 Session Last amended: 1974 session

§ 524.3-1006 — Limitations on Actions and Proceedings Against Distributees

Plain-Language Summary

This section sets a deadline for going after property that has already been distributed from an estate. Unless the matter was already settled in a formal proceeding, a creditor seeking payment from a distributee who is liable, or an heir, devisee, or successor personal representative seeking to recover property that was improperly distributed (or its value), must act by the later of three years after the decedent's death or one year after the property was distributed. After that point the claim is permanently barred, except that this time limit does not protect property obtained through fraud.

Practical Notes
If you believe estate property went to the wrong person or that a distributee still owes a valid debt, watch the clock: your right to recover generally ends at the later of three years after death or one year after distribution. The fraud exception is narrow, so do not rely on it, and consult an attorney promptly if you think a deadline is approaching.