Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 79.djvu/746

 706

PUBLIC LAW 89-183-SEPT. 14, 1965

[79 STAT.

(2) file in the Probate Court his bond to the United States, with security approved by the court, in such penalty as the court requires, with condition to administer according to law all the money, goods, chattels, rights, and credits of the deceased, and in all other respects perform the trust reposed in him. (b) If the court orders the sale of the decedent's real estate, the administrator, other than a local corporation authorized by the laws of the District of Columbia to act as administrator, shall give a like bond conditioned to administer the proceeds from the real estate that may be sold for the payment of the decedent's debts which come into his possession or to the possession of another person for him. § 20-333. Special bond in intestacy (a) Where the person appointed as administrator is entitled to the residue of the estate after the payment of the debts, he may, instead of the bond prescribed by section 20-332, execute a bond, with security approved by the court, in such penalty as the court considers sufficient, conditioned for the payment of all debts and claims against the deceased, and all damages which may be recovered against him as administrator; and if the administrator files the written consent of those entitled to the residue and they are all of full a^e, the court may direct that only the special bond provided by this section be given. In this case, the administrator is not required to return inventory or account. (b) When the administrator gives a special bond as provided by this section, he is personally answerable for all debts, claims, and damages which may be recovered against him, in like manner as the executor who gives a similar bond as provided by section 20-304. The sureties on the bond are not liable for a greater amount than the penalty thereof. § 20-334. Persons entitled to administer; order of preference (a) The Probate Court may grant letters of administration of the estate of a person dying intestate to one or more of the following persons, according to the order of preference indicated: (1) where there is a surviving spouse and a child or children, to the surviving spouse or to the child, or one or more of the children qualified to act as administrator; (2) where there is a surviving spouse and no child, the surviving spouse shall be preferred, and, next to the surviving spouse, a grandchild shall be preferred; (3) where there is no surviving spouse, or child, or grandchild to act, the father shall be preferred; and, where there is no father, the mother shall be preferred; (4) where there is no surviving spouse, or child, or grandchild, or father, or mother to act, brothers and sisters shall be preferred; and, where there is no brother or sister, the next of kin shall be preferred; (5) males shall be preferred to females in equal degree; (6) relations of the whole blood shall be preferred to those of the half-blood in equal degree; and relations of the half-blood shall be preferred to those of the whole blood in a remoter degree; (7) relations descending shall be preferred to relations ascending, in the collateral line; for example, a nephew shall be preferred to an uncle; (8) a person may not be preferred in the ascending line beyond a father or mother, or in the descending line below a grandchild; (9) a femme sole shall be preferred to a married woman in equal degree;

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