(a) (1) On the expiration of 6 months from the date of the decedent’s death, the personal representative shall pay the claims allowed against the estate in the order of priority prescribed in § 8–105 of this subtitle.
(2) The court may extend the time for payment for good cause shown.
(3) A person with a valid unbarred claim or with a valid unbarred judgment who has not been paid may petition the court for an order directing the personal representative to pay the claim to the extent that funds of the estate are available for payment.
(b) The personal representative may pay, at any time, a just claim that has not been barred, with or without formal presentation, but the personal representative is personally liable to another claimant whose claim is allowed and who is injured by the payment if:
(1) The payment was made before the expiration of the time limit stated in subsection (a) of this section and the personal representative failed to require the payee to give adequate security to refund any part of the payment necessary to pay other claimants; or
(2) The payment was made in a manner to deprive the injured claimant of the claimant’s priority as a result of negligence or willful fault of the personal representative.
Structure Maryland Statutes
Section 8-101 - Claim Not Paid in Normal Course of Administration
Section 8-102 - Effect of Statute of Limitations
Section 8-103 - Limitation on Presentation of Claim
Section 8-104 - Manner of Presentation of Claim; Form
Section 8-105 - Order of Payment
Section 8-106 - Funeral Expenses
Section 8-107 - Allowance of Claim
Section 8-108 - Payment of Claim
Section 8-109 - Liability of Personal Representative
Section 8-110 - Claim Not Yet Due
Section 8-112 - Contingent Claim
Section 8-114 - Execution and Levy Prohibited
Section 8-115 - Exemption of Proceeds of Life Insurance and Other Benefits