SECTIONS 9600-9606 - California Statutes

PROBATE CODE

SECTION 9600-9606

9600. (a) The personal representative has the management and
control of the estate and, in managing and controlling the estate,
shall use ordinary care and diligence. What constitutes ordinary care
and diligence is determined by all the circumstances of the
particular estate.
(b) The personal representative:
(1) Shall exercise a power to the extent that ordinary care and
diligence require that the power be exercised.
(2) Shall not exercise a power to the extent that ordinary care
and diligence require that the power not be exercised.

9601. (a) If a personal representative breaches a fiduciary duty,
the personal representative is chargeable with any of the following
that is appropriate under the circumstances:
(1) Any loss or depreciation in value of the decedent's estate
resulting from the breach of duty, with interest.
(2) Any profit made by the personal representative through the
breach of duty, with interest.
(3) Any profit that would have accrued to the decedent's estate if
the loss of profit is the result of the breach of duty.
(b) If the personal representative has acted reasonably and in
good faith under the circumstances as known to the personal
representative, the court, in its discretion, may excuse the personal
representative in whole or in part from liability under subdivision
(a) if it would be equitable to do so.

9602. (a) If the personal representative is liable for interest
pursuant to Section 9601, the personal representative is liable for
the greater of the following amounts:
(1) The amount of interest that accrues at the legal rate on
judgments.
(2) The amount of interest actually received.
(b) If the personal representative has acted reasonably and in
good faith under the circumstances as known to the personal
representative, the court, in its discretion, may excuse the personal
representative in whole or in part from liability under subdivision
(a) if it would be equitable to do so.

9603. The provisions of Sections 9601 and 9602 for liability of a
personal representative for breach of a fiduciary duty do not prevent
resort to any other remedy available against the personal
representative under the statutory or common law.

9604. No personal representative is chargeable upon a special
promise to answer in damages for a liability of the decedent or to
pay a debt of the decedent out of the personal representative's own
estate unless the agreement for that purpose, or some memorandum or
note thereof, is in writing and is signed by one of the following:
(a) The personal representative.
(b) Some other person specifically authorized by the personal
representative in writing to sign the agreement or the memorandum or
note.

9605. Appointment of a person as personal representative does not
discharge any claim the decedent has against the person.

9606. Unless otherwise provided in the instrument or in this
division, a personal representative is not personally liable on an
instrument, including but not limited to a note, mortgage, deed of
trust, or other contract, properly entered into in the personal
representative's fiduciary capacity in the course of administration
of the estate unless the personal representative fails to reveal the
personal representative's representative capacity or identify the
estate in the instrument.