§ 44-7-3 — Hearing on petition

When the summons has been served upon all the parties named and referred to in the petition, and any necessary order of publication has been duly completed, the commission shall, on the day named in the summons, or on some later day to which a continuance may have been taken, proceed to hear the matter. If no objection is made to the resignation of the fiduciary by any person interested in the estate mentioned in the petition, and if the commissioner’s certificate shows he has fully and properly rendered all inventories, appraisements and accounts due from him his resignation may be accepted and entered of record by the commission. But if objection be made by any such person on the ground that the fiduciary has not fully settled and accounted for the estate committed to his care, at the time of filing his petition, or for any other valid reason, or it appears from the commissioner’s certificate that an inventory, an appraisement, or an account is due from the fiduciary, the petition and objections or commissioner’s certificate shall be referred to the fiduciary commissioner or to some other fiduciary commissioner or to a special commissioner appointed for the purpose, to do and perform such duties, and report upon such matters and things as are stated in the order of reference, and report the same to the commission. The same proceedings shall be had on such order of reference and the report when made as are had in the circuit court in a suit in chancery in that court. If it shall appear to the commission in any such case that the fiduciary has not fully settled and accounted for the estate committed to his charge, or that there is money or other property in his hands, or under his control, not yet paid over or disposed of, such orders as may be necessary and proper for the disposition and safekeeping thereof shall be made by the commission, and when such orders are complied with by the fiduciary, his resignation may be accepted. His resignation when accepted shall not affect or impair the liability of the sureties on his official bond in force at the time of his resignation and the acceptance thereof, for any default by him in the discharge of his duties as such fiduciary, remaining unsettled or unsatisfied. The costs in such cases shall be paid as the court may order.

Legislative History

1982 Reg. Sess., SB445