72-3-606. Possession and protection of estate. (1) Except as otherwise provided by a decedent's will, a personal representative has a right to and shall take possession or control of the decedent's property, except that any real property or tangible personal property may be left with or surrendered to the person presumptively entitled to the property 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 request by a personal representative for delivery of any property possessed by an heir or devisee is conclusive evidence, in any action against the heir or devisee for possession of the property, that the possession of the property by the personal representative is necessary for purposes of administration.
(2) The personal representative shall pay taxes on and take all steps reasonably necessary for the management, protection, and preservation of the estate in the personal representative's possession. The personal representative may maintain an action to recover possession of property or to determine the title to the property.
History: En. 91A-3-708 by Sec. 1, Ch. 365, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 91A-3-708; amd. Sec. 97, Ch. 2, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 2352, Ch. 56, L. 2009.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Title 72. Estates, Trusts, and Fiduciary Relationships
Chapter 3. Upc -- Probate and Administration
Part 6. Personal Representative Powers, Duties, and Compensation
72-3-602. Priority among different letters
72-3-603. Notice of appointment to heirs and devisees
72-3-605. Personal representative to proceed without court order -- power to invoke jurisdiction
72-3-606. Possession and protection of estate
72-3-607. Inventory -- appraisal
72-3-609. Supplemental inventory
72-3-610. General duties -- fiduciary
72-3-611. No surcharge for authorized acts generally -- limitation
72-3-613. Transactions authorized for personal representative
72-3-614. Power to recover property that is subject of void or voidable transfer
72-3-615. Transaction involving conflict of interest -- voidable -- exceptions
72-3-616. Improper exercise of power -- breach of fiduciary duty
72-3-617. Order restraining personal representative
72-3-618. Persons dealing with personal representative -- protection
72-3-619. Powers of personal representatives in general
72-3-621. Powers and duties of successor personal representative
72-3-622. Corepresentatives -- when joint action required
72-3-623. Persons dealing with single corepresentative -- protection
72-3-624. Powers of remaining corepresentative
72-3-625. through 72-3-630 reserved
72-3-631. Compensation of personal representative
72-3-632. Expenses of personal representative in estate litigation