The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 14 : Decedents Estates and Fiduciary Relations

Chapter 066 : Settlement of Claims

• § 1207. Payment of claims

  (a) Upon the expiration of four months from the date of the first publication of the notice to creditors, the executor or administrator shall proceed to pay the claims allowed against the estate in the order of priority prescribed, after making provision for homestead, family, and support allowances, for claims already presented which have not yet been allowed or whose allowance has been appealed, and for unbarred claims which may yet be presented, including costs and expenses of administration. By petition to the court in a proceeding for the purpose, a claimant whose claim has been allowed but not paid as provided herein may secure an order directing the executor or administrator to pay the claim to the extent that funds of the estate are available for the payment.

  (b) The executor or administrator at any time may pay any just claim that has not been barred, with or without formal presentation, but he or she personally liable to any other claimant whose claim is allowed and who is injured by such payment if:

  (1) the payment was made before the expiration of the time limit stated in subsection (a) of this section and the executor or administrator failed to require the payee to give adequate security for the refund of any of the payment necessary to pay other claimants; or

  (2) the payment was made, due to the negligence or willful fault of the executor or administrator, in such manner as to deprive the injured claimant of his or her priority. (Added 1975, No. 240 (Adj. Sess.), § 7.)