2,951. An Unspecified Valuation

Hilchos Arachin Vacharamin 1:20

Let’s say that someone says, “I commit a valuation” without specifying whose valuation he means, merely mentioning a valuation without details. In such a case, he is only obligated to pay the smallest of the valuations, which is three shekel.

Hilchos Arachin Vacharamin 1:21

Let’s say that someone committed his own valuation, but he died before standing before the court.* In such a case, his heirs are not obligated to pay. This is inferred from Leviticus 27:8: “He shall be stood before the kohanim and the kohein will evaluate him.” If he stood before the court and then died, then his heirs are obligated to pay.

*More about this IY”H in chapter 8.