When letters of administration are issued to a public administrator by the superior court in the district, the public administrator is the legal custodian of and shall administer the estates of deceased persons who leave property within the district. Letters of administration shall be issued to the public administrator when (1) administration of a decedent's estate is required by law, and (2) a period of 30 days has elapsed from the date of death with no letters testamentary or letters of administration having been applied for and issued to any other person entitled by law to administer the estate of the deceased person. Except as otherwise provided in AS 22.20.410 - 22.20.440, a public administrator shall administer estates as other administrators, and has all the rights and authority, and is subject to all the duties and liabilities of other administrators.