A. The duties and powers of a personal representative commence upon his appointment. The powers of a personal representative relate back in time to give acts by the person appointed which are beneficial to the estate occurring prior to appointment the same effect as those occurring thereafter.
B. Prior to appointment, a person named personal representative in a will may carry out written instructions of the decedent relating to his body, funeral and burial arrangements.
C. A personal representative may ratify and accept acts on behalf of the estate done by others prior to the appointment of the personal representative where the acts would have been proper for a personal representative.
History: 1953 Comp., § 32A-3-701, enacted by Laws 1975, ch. 257, § 3-701.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 31 Am. Jur. 2d Executors and Administrators §§ 367 to 437, 522 to 531, 922 to 959.
Amount of funeral expenses allowable against decedent's estate, 4 A.L.R.2d 995.
Relation back of letters testamentary or of administration as validating prior sales of decedent's property, 2 A.L.R.3d 1105.
Running of statute of limitations as affected by doctrine of relation back of appointment of administrator, 3 A.L.R.3d 1234.
25A C.J.S. Dead Bodies § 2; 33 C.J.S. Executors and Administrators §§ 72, 142.
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 45 - Uniform Probate Code
Article 3 - Probate of Wills and Administration
Part 7 - DUTIES AND POWERS OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES
Section 45-3-701 - Time of accrual of duties and powers.
Section 45-3-702 - Priority among different letters.
Section 45-3-704 - Personal representative to proceed without court order; exception.
Section 45-3-705 - Duty of personal representative; notice to heirs and devisees.
Section 45-3-706 - Duty of personal representative; inventory and appraisement.
Section 45-3-707 - Employment of appraisers.
Section 45-3-708 - Duty of personal representative; supplementary inventory.
Section 45-3-709 - Duty of personal representative; possession of estate.
Section 45-3-710 - Power to avoid transfers.
Section 45-3-711 - Powers of personal representatives; in general.
Section 45-3-712 - Improper exercise of power; breach of fiduciary duty.
Section 45-3-714 - Persons dealing with personal representative; protection.
Section 45-3-715 - Transactions authorized for personal representatives; exceptions.
Section 45-3-716 - Powers and duties of successor personal representative.
Section 45-3-717 - Co-representatives; when joint action required.
Section 45-3-718 - Powers of surviving personal representative.
Section 45-3-719 - Compensation for personal representatives.
Section 45-3-720 - Expenses in estate litigation.
Section 45-3-721 - Proceedings for review of employment and compensation.