Yes! You can use AI to fill out Form DE-270 / GC-070, Ex Parte Petition for Authority to Sell Securities and Order

Filers often enter the wrong case number, misspell the name of the estate, or list the incorrect court branch. These details must exactly match all other case documents. An error here can lead to the petition being rejected at the clerk's office or misfiled, causing significant delays and requiring refiling. To avoid this, meticulously double-check the case number and estate name against existing court records before submission.

The form requires that every petitioner be listed in Section 1 and that every petitioner signs the document. When there are multiple co-personal representatives or co-conservators, it is common for one person to fill out the form and forget to include the others or gather all required signatures. A petition with missing signatures is invalid and will be rejected by the court. Always ensure all fiduciaries are listed and have signed before filing.

In Section 2, the petitioner must provide a clear legal reason for selling the securities by checking the appropriate boxes (e.g., to pay debts, for the benefit of the estate). A common mistake is failing to check any of these boxes, leaving the court without a basis to grant the order. This forces the court to deny the petition or request more information, delaying the process. Carefully review and select the justification that accurately reflects the estate's situation.

The table on page two requires a precise description of the securities to be sold, including the exact name and number of shares or face value of bonds. People often make typos, use informal names for stocks, or list an incorrect number of shares. An inaccurate description can result in the court order not authorizing the sale of the intended asset, requiring a new petition. Use official statements from the brokerage to ensure every detail is correct.

Several fields in the 'List of Securities' table, such as 'Name of exchange' and 'Minimum selling price', are noted as being required by local rule. Filers frequently overlook this and fail to check their specific county's probate rules, leading them to omit necessary information. This omission can cause the petition to be deemed incomplete and denied. Always consult the local court rules for the specific county where you are filing to ensure all requirements are met.

In Section 2.e, the petitioner must state whether special notice has been requested by any party and, if so, whether waivers are attached. Incorrectly stating that notice has not been requested when it has, or failing to provide waivers, is a serious procedural error. This can lead to the petition being denied and may open the petitioner up to liability. It is critical to verify the case file for any 'Request for Special Notice' forms before completing this section.

Section 2.e(3) asks the petitioner to confirm that no security being sold is specifically bequeathed in the will. Mistakenly checking this box when a security *is* willed to a specific person is a major error with serious consequences, as it can violate the beneficiary's rights. Selling a specifically bequeathed asset requires a higher level of justification and notice. Always review the will carefully to confirm the status of each asset before petitioning for its sale.

When checking 'other (specify)' in sections 2.c or 2.e, filers often provide vague or insufficient explanations like 'for estate purposes' or 'to pay bills.' The court requires a clear, specific, and legally sufficient reason for the action. A vague explanation will likely result in the court denying the petition or setting it for a hearing to demand clarification, defeating the purpose of an 'ex parte' (without hearing) petition.

The form requires the petitioner to identify their role by checking 'personal representative,' 'guardian,' or 'conservator.' Selecting the wrong role misrepresents the petitioner's legal authority and the nature of the case (e.g., a decedent's estate vs. a conservatorship). This fundamental error will cause confusion and likely lead to the petition's rejection. Ensure you check the box that corresponds to the official appointment order from the court.

The top right of the first page and the entire 'Order' section at the bottom of the second page are clearly marked 'FOR COURT USE ONLY.' Inexperienced filers sometimes write in these areas, attempting to fill in the case number or pre-fill the judge's order. Any unauthorized markings in these sections can cause the clerk to reject the form immediately. AI-powered form-filling tools like Instafill.ai help prevent this by locking court-only fields, and can also convert non-fillable court PDFs into user-friendly, fillable versions.