72-3-611. No surcharge for authorized acts generally -- limitation. (1) A personal representative may not be surcharged for acts of administration or distribution if the conduct in question was authorized at the time. Subject to other obligations of administration and of this code, an informally probated will is authority to administer and distribute the estate according to its terms. Subject to the provisions of this code, an order of appointment of a personal representative, whether issued in informal or formal proceedings, is authority to distribute apparently intestate assets to the heirs of the decedent if, at the time of distribution, the personal representative is not aware of a pending testacy proceeding, a proceeding to vacate an order entered in an earlier testacy proceeding, a formal proceeding questioning the personal representative's appointment or fitness to continue, or a supervised administration proceeding.
(2) This section does not affect the duty of the personal representative to administer and distribute the estate in accordance with the rights of claimants whose claims have been allowed, the surviving spouse, any minor and dependent children, and any pretermitted child of the decedent as described elsewhere in this code.
History: En. 91A-3-703 by Sec. 1, Ch. 365, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 91A-3-703(2); amd. Sec. 2354, Ch. 56, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 70, Ch. 313, L. 2019.
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