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Instructions for Opening an Informal Estate to Obtain Medical Records

This process is for access to medical records only.  Filed only by the spouse and if there is no spouse, children.  The Court will be appointing the nominated personal representative in the will (if any), the surviving spouse, or other person with priority, to serve as Personal Representative.

If you discover that there are other assets in the estate, you will not be able to continue with this process.  You will need to file a regular Informal Probate, and that process will allow you access to the medical records.  Please contact the Probate Court if this occurs.

If there are no other assets then continue with the following instructions:

The following forms must be completed and filed with the Court, along with a $150 filing fee, payable to the Probate Court, and a copy of the death certificate:

• Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative  PC558
• Testimony to Identify Heirs and Devisee Heirs PC565
• Acceptance of Appointment PC571

The Court will then issue the Register's Statement and Letters of Authority of Personal Representative (PC572).  A certified copy of the letters will be required to access medical records.  The cost of a certified copy of the "letters" is $12.00.

Within 14 days of the appointment as Personal Representative you must send a copy of the Notice of Appointment and Duties of Personal Representative (PC573), Application, Last Will and Testament (if any) and Inventory to all interested persons.  Interested persons are the surviving spouse and adult children of the deceased.

The original of the Inventory, PC577, must be filed with the Court, along with an Inventory fee of $5.00, payable to the Probate Court.  On the Inventory, you must list "Medical Records" as the property with a -0- value.

Once you access the medical records and are ready to close the file you must file the Sworn Closing Statement, Summary Proceedings, Small Estates form PC590.


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