When any personal representative fails to settle and account with any heir or beneficiary of the estate, the heir or beneficiary may bring an action on the bond of the personal representative in the first instance and may recover judgment against the principal and the principal's sureties without first bringing an action against the personal representative in that person's representative capacity.
(Code 1981, §53-7-19, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 504, § 10.)