2020 Georgia Code
Title 53 - Wills, Trusts, and Administration of Estates
Chapter 7 - Administration of Estates Generally
Article 6 - Settlement of Accounts
Part 1 - General Provisions
§ 53-7-66. Refunding Bonds

When litigation against the estate is pending or is threatened or when notice of a claim has been given to the personal representative, the personal representative may demand that the heirs or beneficiaries give refunding bonds to indemnify the personal representative against the claims. Upon the failure of the heirs or beneficiaries to give such bonds, the personal representative may reserve enough of the assets to respond to the claims.

(Code 1981, §53-7-66, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 504, § 10.)

RESEARCH REFERENCES

Am. Jur. 2d.

- 31 Am. Jur. 2d, Executors and Administrators, §§ 915, 917, 919, 983.

- 34 C.J.S., Executors and Administrators, § 608.

PART 2 ANNUAL RETURNS AND INTERMEDIATE REPORTS

53-7-67. Required annual filing; reporting period.

1. Within 60 days of the anniversary of the date of qualification, in each year, every personal representative required by the laws of this state to make annual returns shall file with the probate court a true and just verified accounting of the receipts and expenditures in behalf of the estate during the year preceding the anniversary date of qualification, together with a note or memorandum of any other fact necessary to the exhibition of the true condition of the estate. The return shall include an updated inventory of the assets of the estate as of the anniversary date of qualification. With this return, either the original vouchers shall be filed, showing the correctness of each item, or, in lieu thereof, the personal representative shall attach an affidavit stating that the original vouchers have been compared to each item on the return and that the return is correct; but the probate court shall require the original vouchers to be produced for good cause shown. If the original vouchers are filed with the return, they shall remain in the probate court for 30 days.
2. The probate court, upon petition of the personal representative or upon the court's own motion, may change the reporting period from the year immediately preceding the anniversary date of qualification to the year immediately preceding a date ordered by the court. In lieu of changing the reporting date, the probate court is authorized to accept and approve a return even if the return does not cover the appropriate reporting period; however, such acceptance shall not change the reporting period established by either the anniversary date of qualification or a subsequent order of the court, unless the court also enters an order changing the reporting date.

(Code 1981, §53-7-67, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 504, § 10.)

- For article, "Fiduciary Problems of the Executor and Trustee: Conflicts of Interest, Violations of Fiduciary Duties, Surcharge, and Other Remedies of Beneficiaries," see 9 Ga. St. B.J. 187 (1972).

This section carries forward former OCGA Sec. 53-7-180.

JUDICIAL DECISIONS

Editor's notes.

- In light of the similarity of the statutory provisions, decisions under Ga. L. 1943, p. 409, § 1, are included in the annotations for this Code section.

- There was no abuse of discretion in the probate court's removal of an administrator based on findings that the administrator failed to file timely and proper annual returns. In re Estate of Jackson, 241 Ga. App. 392, 526 S.E.2d 884 (1999).

Annual returns which do not substantially comply with the law are not prima facie proof in favor of the administrator. If they are allowed by the ordinary (now probate judge) and recorded, under the terms of the statute, anyone challenging their correctness must carry the burden of proving their incorrectness. But when the returns are not allowed by the ordinary (now probate judge), the burden is upon the administrator to prove the returns' correctness in a proceeding in the court of ordinary (now probate court) for an accounting and settlement. Ellis v. McWilliams, 70 Ga. App. 195, 27 S.E.2d 886 (1943) ??? (decided under Ga. L. 1943, p. 409, § 1).

OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Editor's notes.

- In light of the similarity of the statutory provisions, opinions under former O.C.G.A. § 53-7-180 are included in the annotations for this Code section.

- Banks, acting as guardians and administrators of estates, need not file originals or copies of vouchers with their returns if the banks file an affidavit stating that the original vouchers have been compared to each item on the return and that the return is correct. 1983 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U83-34 (decided under former O.C.G.A. § 53-7-180).

RESEARCH REFERENCES

Am. Jur. 2d.

- 31 Am. Jur. 2d, Executors and Administrators, §§ 488, 489, 867, 872 et seq., 877.

- 34 C.J.S., Executors and Administrators, § 995.