The duties and powers of a personal representative commence upon appointment. The powers of a personal representative relate back in time to give acts by the person appointed that are beneficial to the estate occurring prior to appointment the same effect as those occurring thereafter. Prior to appointment, a person named executor in a will may carry out written instructions of the decedent relating to the decedent's body, funeral, and burial arrangements. A personal representative may ratify and accept acts on behalf of the estate done by others where the acts would have been proper for a personal representative.
Structure Alaska Statutes
Title 13. Decedents' Estates, Guardianships, Transfers, Trusts, and Health Care Decisions
Chapter 16. Probate of Wills and Administration
Article 7. Duties and Powers of Personal Representatives.
Sec. 13.16.340. Time of accrual of duties and powers.
Sec. 13.16.345. Priority among different letters.
Sec. 13.16.355. Personal representative to proceed without court order; exception.
Sec. 13.16.360. Duty of personal representative; information to heirs and devisees.
Sec. 13.16.365. Duty of personal representative; inventory and appraisal.
Sec. 13.16.370. Employment of appraisers.
Sec. 13.16.375. Duty of personal representative; supplementary inventory.
Sec. 13.16.380. Duty of personal representative; possession of estate.
Sec. 13.16.381. Disposition of unclaimed estate by personal representative.
Sec. 13.16.385. Power to avoid transfers.
Sec. 13.16.390. Powers of personal representatives; in general.
Sec. 13.16.395. Improper exercise of power; breach of fiduciary duty.
Sec. 13.16.405. Persons dealing with personal representative; protection.
Sec. 13.16.410. Transactions authorized for personal representatives; exceptions.
Sec. 13.16.415. Powers and duties of successor personal representative.
Sec. 13.16.420. Co-representatives; when joint action required.
Sec. 13.16.425. Powers of surviving personal representative.
Sec. 13.16.430. Compensation of personal representative.