Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate (Delaware)

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PREPARATION GUIDE — CONFIRM THE COUNTY FORM

Delaware decedents' estates are administered by the Register of Wills in the county of
appointment (a branch of the Court of Chancery). Each county Register of Wills (New Castle,
Kent, Sussex) issues its own Inventory form. Under 12 Del. C. § 1905(a) the executor or
administrator files the inventory and appraisal with the Register of Wills. This template
supplies the substantive content and schedules; transfer your content onto the current county
form before filing.

INVENTORY AND APPRAISEMENT OF THE ESTATE

Estate / Folio Number: [____________________________________]

1. EXECUTOR / ADMINISTRATOR (PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE)

2. DECEDENT

Each item of property in this inventory is separately valued at its fair market value as of the date of the decedent's death, as required by 12 Del. C. § 1905(a).

3. DUTY AND DEADLINE

Under 12 Del. C. § 1905(a), every executor or administrator shall, within three (3) months after the granting of letters testamentary or of administration, file in the office of the Register of Wills of the county in which the letters were granted an inventory and appraisal (and shall file a copy in the office of the Register of Wills of any county in which the decedent owned real estate). The inventory shall contain: (i) an inventory of all goods and chattels of the decedent; (ii) a list of all debts and credits due or belonging to the decedent or the estate; and (iii) a statement describing every parcel of Delaware real estate of which the decedent died seized, including the parcel identification number and the name and relationship of each party entitled to an interest.

• Date letters granted: [__/__/____]
• Inventory due (3 months later): [__/__/____]

Where Delaware real property passes by joint ownership with right of survivorship or tenancy by the entireties, an affidavit describing the real estate and naming the surviving owner shall be filed with the Register of Wills of the county where the property is located within three months after death (12 Del. C. § 1905(e)).

4. APPRAISAL METHOD

Under 12 Del. C. § 1904, the personal representative may employ one or more qualified and disinterested appraisers to assist in ascertaining the fair market value, as of the date of the decedent's death, of any asset whose value is subject to reasonable doubt. Different persons may be employed to appraise different kinds of assets. The name and address of any appraiser shall be indicated on the inventory with the item(s) appraised.

☐ No outside appraiser was used. ☐ One or more appraisers were used (identified in the Schedules and § 7).

SCHEDULE A — REAL PROPERTY (Delaware)

SCHEDULE B — TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY (Goods and Chattels)

SCHEDULE C — CASH, BANK & FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS (Money / Deposits)

SCHEDULE D — SECURITIES & BUSINESS INTERESTS (Stock and Business)

SCHEDULE E — DEBTS & CREDITS DUE TO DECEDENT / OTHER ASSETS

RECAPITULATION / SUMMARY

5. AFFIDAVIT OF EXECUTOR / ADMINISTRATOR (12 Del. C. § 1905(b)–(c))

[PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE FULL LEGAL NAME] makes solemn oath (or affirmation) that due inquiry concerning the goods, chattels and money of, and the debts and credits due or belonging to [DECEDENT FULL LEGAL NAME], deceased, has been made, and that this inventory and list contains all the goods, chattels and money of, and debts or credits due or belonging to the said decedent, which have come to the knowledge of the deponent (or affirmant), and that the information contained in the statement of real estate and the information pertaining to transfers of property, powers of appointment, entireties and jointly owned real and personal property and annuity contracts is true to the best of deponent's (or affirmant's) knowledge and belief.

Sworn to (or affirmed) and subscribed before me on [__/__/____].

Signature of Executor/Administrator: ______________________________________

Printed Name: [PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE FULL LEGAL NAME]

Notary Public / Register of Wills Officer: ______________________________________
My commission expires: [__/__/____]

6. APPRAISER'S CERTIFICATE (if appraiser employed — 12 Del. C. § 1904)

Appraiser Signature: ______________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

7. CERTIFICATE OF FILING

☐ The original Inventory and Appraisal was filed with the Register of Wills, [NEW CASTLE / KENT / SUSSEX] County, on [__/__/____], within three months of the grant of letters (12 Del. C. § 1905(a)).

☐ A copy was filed with the Register of Wills of [COUNTY] County, where the decedent owned real estate.

Signature: ______________________________________
Printed Name: [PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE / ATTORNEY NAME]
Delaware Bar ID No.: [____________] (if applicable)

ATTACHMENTS CHECKLIST

☐ County Register of Wills Inventory form — completed
☐ Schedules A–E (asset detail)
☐ Affidavit of executor/administrator (§ 1905(b)–(c))
☐ Appraisal report(s), if any (§ 1904)
☐ Deeds / parcel ID numbers for Delaware real estate (Schedule A)
☐ Date-of-death account statements (Schedule C)
☐ Survivorship/entireties affidavit, if applicable (§ 1905(e))
☐ Copy of letters testamentary or of administration

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• 12 Del. C. § 1905 — Inventory and appraisal; filing requirements, form, contents and supporting affidavits; notice of action affecting title
• 12 Del. C. § 1904 — Employment of appraisers
• 12 Del. C. § 1901 — Assets included in / excluded from inventory
• Delaware Register of Wills (by county): New Castle, Kent, Sussex