At the hearing of the application or any adjournment thereof, the Court of Chancery shall consider the sworn petition of the applicant and any sworn answer or answers that have been filed in the proceeding and shall take and receive any and all pertinent evidence that may be offered by the petitioner or by the personal representative of the decedent or by any person appearing and claiming to have an interest in the estate to be distributed. The evidence so taken shall be recorded stenographically and, if required by the Court, or if an appeal is taken from any decree of distribution that may be made on the application, shall be transcribed.