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Mississippi Probate Deadlines: What to File and When

Mississippi doesn't soften its 90-day bar for a creditor the executor already knew about — which is exactly why the law puts a real duty on the executor to go looking for them first.

Miss. Code Title 91, Chapter 7

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

Quick answer: the deadline that shapes the whole schedule is the 90-day creditor bar from first publication under § 91-7-151. See the full Mississippi probate timeline calculator for your specific estimate.

The core deadlines, in order

DeadlineMississippi ruleStatute
Notice to creditors published3 consecutive weeks§ 91-7-145
Estates $500 or less: posted instead30 days at courthouse door + 2 other public places§ 91-7-147
Diligent-search duty and mailed noticeReasonably diligent efforts to identify creditors, then mail notice§ 91-7-145(1)
Affidavit of compliance filedConfirming diligent search and mailing were done§ 91-7-145(2)
Creditor claim bar90 days from first publication (or posting)§ 91-7-151
Proof of publication filedAny time before final discharge (not limited to 90 days)§ 91-7-145(3)
Defective affidavit amendedAny time before final settlement§ 91-7-151

Strict on the deadline, but with real safeguards built in

Worth understanding clearly: § 91-7-151 is unusually blunt — a claim not registered, probated, and allowed within 90 days of first publication is barred, "even though the existence of the claim may have been known to the executor or administrator." Knowledge alone doesn't save a late claim. But the law balances this with two safeguards: the personal representative must make reasonably diligent efforts to identify creditors and mail them notice (§ 91-7-145), and a claim that was registered in good faith with a merely defective affidavit can still be amended and made effective any time before final settlement (§ 91-7-151).
Facing probate in Mississippi?

A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.

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Mississippi probate deadlines — frequently asked questions

Does Mississippi's 90-day bar really apply even to known claims?

Yes. Miss. Code 91-7-151 states the claim is barred if not registered, probated and allowed within 90 days of first publication, even though the existence of the claim may have been known to the executor or administrator — a genuinely strict rule.

What duty does a Mississippi personal representative have toward creditors?

To make reasonably diligent efforts to identify persons with claims against the estate, mail notice to those identified, and file an affidavit with the clerk confirming that this was done, under Miss. Code 91-7-145.

Can a defective creditor claim in Mississippi be fixed?

Sometimes. If a claim was registered in good faith but the affidavit was defective or insufficient, the court may allow it to be amended at any time before the estate is finally settled, under Section 91-7-151.

What happens for a Mississippi estate worth $500 or less?

The court dispenses with newspaper publication entirely. Notice instead gets posted for 30 days at the courthouse door and two other public places, and the 90-day creditor clock runs from the posting date instead of a publication date.

Keep going

Mississippi Probate Timeline CalculatorYour estimate, based on your answers What Delays Probate in MississippiBeyond the statutory floor Executor vs AdministratorWhich one applies to your estate Mississippi Probate vs Living TrustWould a trust have avoided this?

Estimate for general guidance only, not legal advice. Based on Miss. Code § 91-7-145, 91-7-147, 91-7-151. Confirm current deadlines with the Chancery Court or a licensed Mississippi attorney.