Estate Management Generally - Estate Management - Probate - CA

Section § 9650

This section outlines the duties and rights of a personal representative in handling a deceased person's estate. The personal representative must take control of the decedent's property, collect any debts owed, and can receive income from the estate until it is distributed. They are also responsible for paying taxes and managing the estate's protection and preservation. Additionally, real or personal property can stay with the person likely to inherit it unless the personal representative needs it for administrative purposes.

(a) Except as provided by statute and subject to subdivision (c):

(1) The personal representative has the right to, and shall take possession or control of, all the property of the decedent to be administered in the decedent’s estate and shall collect all debts due to the decedent or the estate. The personal representative is not accountable for any debts that remain uncollected without his or her fault.

(2) The personal representative is entitled to receive the rents, issues, and profits from the real and personal property in the estate until the estate is distributed.

(b) The personal representative shall pay taxes on, and take all steps reasonably necessary for the management, protection, and preservation of, the estate in his or her possession.

(c) Real property or tangible personal property may be left with or surrendered to the person presumptively entitled to it unless or until, in the judgment of the personal representative, possession of the property by the personal representative will be necessary for purposes of administration. The person holding the property shall surrender it to the personal representative on request by the personal representative.

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Section § 9651

If someone is managing an estate, they can take property they believe belongs to the deceased without facing legal consequences as long as they act in good faith. They're also responsible for figuring out who really owns the property. While they have it, they can collect rents and profits, but if it turns out not to be part of the estate, they must give it, plus profits, to the rightful owner, minus any expenses. They can ask a court's nod before giving it back. Lastly, if their actions were beneficial or essential, the court may grant them compensation for their efforts and related costs, even if the property wasn't part of the estate in the end.

(a) A personal representative who in good faith takes into possession real or personal property, and reasonably believes that the property is part of the estate of the decedent, is not:

(1) Criminally liable for so doing.

(2) Civilly liable to any person for so doing.

(b) The personal representative shall make reasonable efforts to determine the true nature of, and title to, the property so taken into possession.

(c) During his or her possession, the personal representative is entitled to receive all rents, issues, and profits of the property. If the property is later determined not to be part of the estate of the decedent, the personal representative shall deliver the property, or cause it to be delivered, to the person legally entitled to it, together with all rents, issues, and profits of the property received by the personal representative, less any expenses incurred in protecting and maintaining the property and in collecting rents, issues, and profits. The personal representative may request court approval before delivering the property pursuant to this subdivision.

(d) The court may allow the personal representative reasonable compensation for services rendered in connection with the duties specified in this section as to property later determined not to be part of the estate of the decedent, if the court makes one of the following findings:

(1) The services were of benefit to the estate. If the court makes this finding, the compensation and the expenses and costs of litigation, including attorney’s fees of the attorney hired by the personal representative to handle the matter, are a proper expense of administration.

(2) The services were essential to preserve, protect, and maintain the property. If the court makes this finding, the court shall award compensation and the expenses and costs of litigation, including attorney’s fees of the attorney hired by the personal representative to handle the matter, as an expense deductible from the rents, issues, and profits received by the personal representative, or, if these are insufficient, as a lien against the property.

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Section § 9652

This section deals with how a personal representative should manage cash from an estate. Normally, they need to invest cash in interest-bearing accounts. However, if some cash is needed for regular estate administration or if the will specifies a different plan, those funds don't have to be invested.

(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), the personal representative shall keep all cash in his or her possession invested in interest-bearing accounts or other investments authorized by law.

(b) The requirement of subdivision (a) does not apply to the amount of cash that is reasonably necessary for orderly administration of the estate.

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Section § 9653

This law allows creditors of a deceased person to request that the personal representative of the estate take action to recover property that was transferred by the deceased under certain conditions. This recovery is aimed at paying off the creditors when the estate doesn’t have enough assets. These situations include property transfers that can be voided under specific laws, gifts made by the deceased when they expected to die soon, or transfers directed by the deceased to a beneficiary upon their death. The creditor must cover some costs of the lawsuit. After recovering the property, it is sold to pay debts, with any leftover proceeds returned to the original owner of the property.

(a) On application of a creditor of the decedent or the estate, the personal representative shall commence and prosecute an action for the recovery of real or personal property of the decedent for the benefit of creditors if the personal representative has insufficient assets to pay creditors and the decedent during lifetime did any of the following with respect to the property:

(1) Made a conveyance of the property, or any right or interest in the property, that is voidable as to creditors under the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 3439) of Title 2 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Civil Code).

(2) Made a gift of the property in view of impending death.

(3) Made a direction to transfer a vehicle, undocumented vessel, manufactured home, mobilehome, commercial coach, truck camper, or floating home to a designated beneficiary on the decedent’s death pursuant to Section 18102.2 of the Health and Safety Code, or Section 5910.5 or 9916.5 of the Vehicle Code, and the property has been transferred as directed.

(b) A creditor making application under this section shall pay such part of the costs and expenses of the suit and attorney’s fees, or give an undertaking to the personal representative for that purpose, as the personal representative and the creditor agree, or, absent an agreement, as the court or judge orders.

(c) The property recovered under this section shall be sold for the payment of debts in the same manner as if the decedent had died seized or possessed of the property. The proceeds of the sale shall be applied first to payment of the costs and expenses of suit, including attorney’s fees, and then to payment of the debts of the decedent in the same manner as other property in possession of the personal representative. After all the debts of the decedent have been paid, the remainder of the proceeds shall be paid to the person from whom the property was recovered. The property may be sold in its entirety or in such portion as necessary to pay the debts.

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Section § 9654

This law allows heirs or those named in a will to file a lawsuit to gain or assert ownership of a property. They can do this alone or with the personal representative (executor) of the estate. However, they cannot bring this action against the personal representative.

The heirs or devisees may themselves, or jointly with the personal representative, maintain an action for possession of property or to quiet title to property against any person except the personal representative.

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Section § 9655

If an estate includes shares in a corporation, a membership in a nonprofit, or other property, the personal representative managing the estate has several rights. They can vote or give someone else the power to vote on matters related to this property. They can agree to meetings without advance notice, and they can approve or confirm actions on behalf of the shareholders or members.

With respect to a share of stock of a domestic or foreign corporation held in the estate, a membership in a nonprofit corporation held in the estate, or other property held in the estate, a personal representative may do any one or more of the following:

(a) Vote in person, and give proxies to exercise, any voting rights with respect to the share, membership, or other property.

(b) Waive notice of a meeting or give consent to the holding of a meeting.

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Section § 9656

This law allows the person responsible for managing someone's estate, known as the personal representative, to buy insurance to protect the estate's property against damage or loss. They can also get insurance to protect themselves from being personally liable if someone else makes a claim against the estate.

The personal representative may insure the property of the estate against damage or loss and may insure himself or herself against liability to third persons.

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Section § 9657

This law states that the personal representative managing an estate cannot personally benefit from any increases in the estate's value. Likewise, they aren't personally responsible for any decreases or losses, as long as these aren't due to their own mistakes or negligence.

The personal representative shall not make profit by the increase, nor suffer loss by the decrease or destruction without his or her fault, of any part of the estate.

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