New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 3 - TAXATION
Chapter 8 - ESTATE TAX
Part 2 - PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Section 3.8.2.8 - WHO IS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

A. The term "personal representative" generally means the executor or administrator of the decedent's estate as a whole, such as one appointed by a court having jurisdiction of the estate.

B. If there is no such person appointed, qualified and acting, then every person in possession of any property of the decedent can be considered a "personal representative" for estate tax purposes. Consequently, in the absence of a duly qualified and acting executor, administrator, fiduciary or custodian, persons possessing property of the decedent are responsible for filing the estate tax return (Section 7-7-5 NMSA 1978) and paying the estate tax (Section 7-7-6 NMSA 1978). Such persons are also subject to the provisions of Section 7-7-11 NMSA 1978 and Subsection A of 7-7-12 NMSA 1978. It is not anticipated that every person in possession of any property of the decedent will file the estate tax return but that one among that group will take the responsibility.

C. "Possession" of property means actual or constructive possession and denotes physical dominion or control over the property coupled with an intent to exercise control and to exclude others from control. Persons who may have possession of a decedent's property include, but are not limited to, lessees or bailees, joint or co-owners (including an owner or owners in joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and community property), partners or joint venturers, trustees or other fiduciaries, and transferees or distributees of the estate. The term "possession" does not, however, signify mere physical custody of property, when such custody is for a limited purpose or when there is no intent to exercise control or to exclude others from control. Persons who do not have possession of a decedent's property (absent special circumstances) include mortgagees or pledgees, stockbrokers or stock transfer agents, bank and other depositories of checking or saving accounts, safe-deposit companies, and life insurance companies.

D. Example 1: D, a New Mexico domiciliary, and J own a joint bank account in B bank. D dies and no executor or administrator is appointed for D's estate. J is a personal representative; B is not.

E. Example 2: D, a New Mexico domiciliary, and S own as community property land which is mortgaged to L savings and loan association. D carries life insurance with I insurance company; S is named as beneficiary. D dies and no executor or administrator is appointed for the estate. S collects the proceeds, pays off the loan and receives a release of mortgage from L. S is a personal representative (as co-owner, as recipient of the insurance proceeds and release of the mortgage); L and I are not.

F. Example 3: D, a New Mexico domiciliary, has an investment management agency account with C bank, under which C holds D's securities (registered in the name of its nominee) and invests and re- invests them in its discretion. The assets in this account are pledged to C to secure a loan to D. C places an order with broker B to sell certain stocks and to buy other stocks and then D dies. B executes the orders, forwards the sold securities to T1 transfer agent, collects the proceeds and sends them to C, and has the purchased securities registered by T2 transfer agent in the name of C's nominee. No executor or administrator is appointed for D's estate, all of which is inherited by X. X is a personal representative, as is C (as bailee, not as pledgee). Neither B, T1 nor T2 is a personal representative.

G. Example 4: D, a New Mexico domiciliary, is employed by E, a New Mexico employer. D dies and E pays to S, D's surviving spouse, $1,000 wages E owed to D. Thereafter, an executor or administrator becomes appointed, qualified and acting for D's estate. E is not a personal representative.