Final Account Instructions | PBT-600 and PBT-600M

Form Development History

practicelaw's Final Account form originally was created in both Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel formats. Although the Microsoft Word format provided editing flexibility, formatting issues and a limited calculating function made the form less than fully functional. While an Excel spreadsheet format allowed for easy numeric manipulation, Excel's formatting options were significantly limited. After experimenting with these formats, we determined that these limitations necessitated a third approach — a fillable PDF document with calculating fields, which is now posted here on practicelaw.

The Final Acount form PBT-600, was designed for use in estates with one personal representative, PBT-600M accommodates estates with multiple personal representatives.

Final Account Organization

The form has three parts:

• a Summary Page (page 1),
• a Summary Detail Page (page 2),
and Exhibits.

The first two pages provide summarized totals from each of the Exhibits.

Exhibit 1 provides information contained in the "Inventory" (PBT-480).

Exhibits 2 and 3 contain tables that itemize Increases/Receipts (Exhibit 2) and Decreases/ Disbursements (Exhibit 3).

Exhibit 4 provides detail relating to any assets on hand at the time of the final account.

Totals in the Exhibits calculate automatically, and the totals from each Exhibit populate the appropriate lines on the summary pages of the Final Account.

We have also provided a separate Continuation Schedule (PBT-601) to use if you need additional space for data entries (discussed below). Please note that the Final Account and Continuation Schedule forms were designed to be used with Adobe Reader. The calculation functions may not work if other PDF software applications are used.

Entering Data

When entering data into these forms, please note the following:

• You cannot add rows or columns to tables or change fixed text. We have, however, provided three blank tables at the end of Exhibits 2 and 3 to use as needed.

• Totals for each table will remain at zero (0.00) unless you add numerical data to the tables. When a number is added to a table, hit Enter to calculate the Total. If you change numbers in a given table, hit Enter to recalculate the Total.
• With the exception of Exhibit 1: "Total Liens and Encumbrances," use the minus (-) sign to enter a negative amount, such as a loss. Using a positive value will not allow for proper calculation of totals.
• During testing of the Final Account, practitioners requested that we retain specific listed expense categories as practice reminders. Accordingly, we have provided drop-down lists in the "Expenses of Administration," "Funeral Expenses," and "Taxes" table in Exhibit 3 and in the tables in Exhibit 4. To see items in each list, click on the arrows at the end of the table line. Then, click on your choice to add the entry to the table. You can also enter your own text in any field.

Continuation Schedule

In addition to the Final Account form, we have created a Continuation Schedule at the request of practitioners who tested the Final Account. The Continuation Schedule gives the user a place to enter additional data that may exceed the space allowed by the Exhibits. It is a self-contained one-page form with one calculating Total field that captures all numerical data on the Schedule. The Total amount from the Continuation Schedule can then be added manually as a separate line item to the appropriate Exhibit table on the Final Account or on other forms.

Contact Us

The Final Account has been a complex form to create, and we have worked hard to accommodate numerous interests and requests. In our process of creating, editing, and working with the form, user comments have helped shape the final product. Let us know how this form works for you. If there are issues or comments you have, please share them with one of practicelaw's attorney editors.