A. Termination of appointment of a personal representative occurs as indicated in Sections 3-609 through 3-612 [45-3-609 to 45-3-612 NMSA 1978]. Termination ends the right and power pertaining to the office of personal representative as conferred by the [Uniform] Probate Code or any will, except that a personal representative, at any time prior to distribution or until restrained or enjoined by district court order, may perform acts necessary to protect the estate and may deliver the assets to a successor representative.
B. Termination does not discharge a personal representative from liability for transactions or omissions occurring before termination, or relieve him of the duty to preserve assets subject to his control, to account therefor and to deliver the assets. Termination does not affect the jurisdiction of the court over the personal representative, but terminates his authority to represent the estate in any pending or future proceeding.
History: 1953 Comp., § 32A-3-608, enacted by Laws 1975, ch. 257, § 3-608.
ANNOTATIONSOfficial comments. — See Commissioners on Uniform State Law official comment to 3-608 UPC.
Bracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.
Continuing fiduciary duty until appointment terminated. — The personal representative of an estate has a continuing fiduciary duty to protect the assets of the estate and to properly account therefor until his appointment is terminated by court order or his death. Bowman v. Butler, 1982-NMCA-108, 98 N.M. 357, 648 P.2d 815.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 33 C.J.S. Executors and Administrators § 78; 34 C.J.S. Executors and Administrators § 1039.