The public administrator of the county in which the estate of a decedent may be administered shall promptly:
(a) Petition for appointment as personal representative of the estate if no person having higher priority has petitioned for appointment and the total value of the property in the decedent’s estate exceeds one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000).
(b) Petition for appointment as personal representative of any other estate the public administrator determines is proper.
(c) Accept appointment as personal representative of an estate when so ordered by the court, whether or not on petition of the public administrator, after notice to the public administrator as provided in Section 7621.
(d) Proceed with summary disposition of the estate as authorized by Article 4 (commencing with Section 7660), if the total value of the property in the decedent’s estate does not exceed the amount prescribed in Section 13100 and a person having higher priority has not assumed responsibility for administration of the estate.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 117, Sec. 1. (AB 1305) Effective January 1, 2012.)