(a) Unless otherwise provided in the contract, an executor or administrator is not individually liable on a contract properly entered into in his or her fiduciary capacity in the course of administration of the estate unless he or she fails to reveal his or her representative capacity and identify the estate in the contract.

(b) An executor or administrator is individually liable for obligations arising from ownership or control of the estate or for torts committed in the course of administration of the estate only if he or she is personally at fault.

(c) Claims based on contracts entered into by an executor or administrator in his or her fiduciary capacity, on obligations arising from ownership or control of the estate or on torts committed in the course of estate administration may be asserted against the estate by proceeding against the executor or administrator in his or her fiduciary capacity, whether or not the executor or administrator is individually liable therefor.

(d) Issues of liability as between the estate and the executor or administrator individually may be determined in a proceeding for that purpose in this court or a proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction. (Added 1975, No. 240 (Adj. Sess.), § 7; amended 1985, No. 144 (Adj. Sess.), § 62.)