How to make the signing field the appointed personal representative name instead of filing as surviving spouse?

Forum|Forum|3 months ago
March 24, 2026
2 replies
19 views

Deceased taxpayer with surviving spouse who is not the personal representative, married filing joint. In the worksheet for EF on page 2, I have marked yes for the court appointed representative and plan to attach a pdf of letters testamentary. The next question is, 'is this a joint return with the surviving spouse who is the personal representative'. I have marked no because the spouse is not the personal representative, and entered the name of the personal representative. Every thing seems fine but no matter what I do, the program is filling the signing block with 'filing as surviving spouse' when it should be the personal representative's name There is a refund due, and it is not requiring Form 1310 as it is the original return. Does anyone know why it will not show the personal rep name in the signing area?

ProSeries Professional

Skylane

Intuit Community Champion

MFJ return… SHE is filling as surviving spouse. Attaching letters testamentary is a good idea.

If at first you don’t succeed…..find a workaround

B

BilgeratAuthor

Level 3

Thanks for responding. If there is a court appointed representative for the deceased, isn't the representative supposed to sign for the deceased on that person's line the and the surviving spouse sign for themselves on their own line they always have? Seems that the court appointed rep's name should be printed on the deceased perron's line instead of "filing as surviving spouse".

sjrcpa

Level 15

On a joint return, the surviving spouse's signature is all that is needed.

The more I know the more I don’t know.

BobKamman

Level 15

First question, who is your client? The surviving spouse, or the personal representative? Or both? In that case, has the PR signed off on a joint return? Have you figured the tax on separate returns? (Probably more this year if you lose the $6,000 senior deduction.) MFJ should not be a knee-jerk reaction for decedents, or for that matter any married couple.

If the PR has delegated authority to the surviving spouse to sign a join return, I wouldn't lose much sleep trying to figure out how to pound square pegs into round holes. Just be able to document the decision.

B

BilgeratAuthor

Level 3

Yes, the client is both. Surviving spouse is not able to handle the estate but can engage. Daughter is the court appointed rep. I always thought if a rep was appointed, the rep had to sign for the dead person and I don't see how if Proseries is forcing the "filing as surviving spouse" language into that signing box. Proseries does ask for the name if there is a rep and I have listed them in that box. But, I don't see it being put on anything anywhere in the return. I guess it is some e fling gizmo thingy. I'll get the daughter to sign everything on the paper copies and document. Daughter has already sent Form 56 listing herself and fiduciary. Thank you.

sjrcpa

Level 15

If a single person died the PR would need to sign the return.

The more I know the more I don’t know.

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