Where, in a suit against an executor or administrator, the plea of “fully administered,” “no assets,” or “not sufficient assets to satisfy the plaintiff's demand,” is found in favor of an executor or administrator, the plaintiff may proceed to ascertainment of the plaintiff's demand, and entry of judgment; but before taking out execution against the real estate of the deceased debtor, the heirs or devisees of the deceased debtor shall be summoned by scire facias to show cause why execution should not be issued against the real estate for the amount of the judgment, or so much of it as there may not be personal assets to discharge.
Code 1858, §§ 2258, 2259 (deriv. Acts 1784 (Oct.), ch. 11, § 2); Shan., §§ 3991, 3992; Code 1932, §§ 8203, 8204; modified; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 30-612.
Textbooks. Pritchard on Wills and Administration of Estates (4th ed., Phillips and Robinson), §§ 744, 849, 850, 858-860.