For the purposes of this division, the following words and phrases have the following meanings:

1. (1) DECEDENT. A deceased individual who is not survived by a minor child who is not the child of the surviving spouse, if any, and whose estate is subject to summary distribution under this division.
2. (2) ESTATE. All the personal property of a decedent who owns no real property at the time of his or her death for which title does not pass by operation of law.
3. (3) PERSON. A natural person, corporation, organization, other legal entity, or any trust or trustee.
4. (4) PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE. An executor, administrator, administrator with the will annexed, special administrator, and successor personal representative.
5. (5) SELF-PROVED WILL. A will that is self-proved in accordance with either Section 43-8-132 or 43-8-133.
6. (6) SMALL ESTATE. An estate having a value that does not exceed the small estate amount.
7. (7) SMALL ESTATE AMOUNT. The sum as adjusted from time to time based on the Consumer Price Index formula set forth in Section 43-8-116 of the homestead allowance under Section 43-8-110, exempt property under Section 43-8-111, and the family allowance under Sections 43-8-112 and 43-8-113.
8. (8) SUMMARY DISTRIBUTION. The procedure provided in this division to distribute the small estate of a decedent without the appointment of a personal representative.
9. (9) SURVIVING SPOUSE. The spouse of the decedent at the time of decedent’s death, provided the spouse is a surviving spouse under Section 43-8-252 and is not an individual claiming to be a spouse under common law, whether or not such common law marriage allegedly occurred before or after January 1, 2017.

(Acts 1975, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 145, §2; Act 2009-399, p. 724, §1; Act 2025-431, §1.)