Mercer Cnty. C.P. Rules of Orphan's Court Local Rule 2.10

The report required by the Supreme Court Rules shall be submitted to the Court

or to an auditor appointed by the Court, and shall include substantially the

following:

1. Unknown Distributee – If it appears that the identity or

whereabouts of a distributee is unknown, or there are no known

beneficiaries, the fiduciary shall submit a written report, sworn to

or verified by the fiduciary or his counsel, setting forth:

A. The nature of the investigation made to locate the

beneficiaries or heirs of the decedent, in complete

detail; and

B. in cases of intestacy, a family tree, as complete as

possible under the circumstances, supported by

such documentary evidence as the fiduciary has

been able to obtain.

2. Investigation Defined – The term “investigation” as used in this

Local Rule, shall include inquiry of or as to as many of the

following as may be pertinent and feasible: residents of the

household in which the decedent resided; friends and neighbors;

labor union membership; places of employment; social fraternal,

or beneficial organization; insurance records; church membership;

school records; social security, Veterans’ Administration, or

military service records; naturalization records, if not native born;

and such other sources of information as the circumstance may

suggest.

3. Non-Resident Distributee – If the fiduciary requests the Court to

withhold distribution to a non-resident distribute, the fiduciary

shall submit a written report, sworn to or verified by the fiduciary

or the fiduciary’s counsel, which shall set forth:

A. the relationship of the distributee to the decedent,

and any available information concerning the

distributee’s present whereabouts;

B. in cases of intestacy, a family tree, as complete as

possible under the circumstances, supported by

such documentary evidence as the fiduciary has

been able to obtain; and

C. the reason for the request that distribution be

withheld, and the suggested manner of

withholding.

Local Rule 2.11:1 Appointment and Duties of Official Examiners

In the exercise of its visitorial and supervisory powers over charitable trusts the

Court will, in its discretion, from time to time, by general rule or special order,

direct the official examiner, or a special examiner appointed for the purpose, to

make an examination of the assets of a designated trust and an investigation to

determine whether the purposes of the trust are being carried out in the manner

provided by the trust instrument; and to submit to the Court a written report

thereon which shall follow as nearly as may be the form prescribed by theses

Local Rules for a master’s report and shall contain specific recommendation for

the Court’s consideration.

Local Rule 2.11:2 Compensation of Official Examiners

a. In General – Each estate or trust shall be liable for the compensation of

the examiner based upon a schedule of fees fixed by the Court. In special

circumstances, the compensation of the examiner will be fixed by special

order of the Court.

b. Charitable Trusts – Each charitable estate or trust shall be liable for the

compensation of the examiner in such amount as the Court shall

specifically fix in each case.