{"data":{"id":"us-me/18-c-m.r.s.-3-104","jurisdiction":"us-me","citation":"18-C M.R.S. §3-104","heading":"Claims against decedent; necessity of administration","body":"A proceeding to enforce a claim against the estate of a decedent or the decedent's successors may not be revived or commenced before the appointment of a personal representative.  After the appointment and until distribution, all proceedings and actions to enforce a claim against the estate are governed by the procedure prescribed by this Article.  After distribution, a creditor whose claim has not been barred may recover from the distributees as provided in section 3‑1004 or from a former personal representative individually liable as provided in section 3‑1005.  This section has no application to a proceeding by a secured creditor of the decedent to enforce the creditor's right to the security except as to any deficiency judgment that might be sought.","path":["TITLE 18-C: PROBATE CODE","PART 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS"],"source_url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/18-C/title18-Csec3-104.html","current_through":"October 1, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:12:29Z","sha256":"a0929fbce2ee0646c93efbdd9e6a77727d9ff56e65ef530c6527ff909bd88ce6","source_id":"us-me","stale":false,"prev":"us-me/18-c-m.r.s.-3-103","next":"us-me/18-c-m.r.s.-3-105"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}