Duties of collector; liability; commission; additional bond requirements if real estate to be possessed

§ 20–504. Duties of collector; liability; commission; additional bond requirements if real estate to be possessed (a) The collector shall collect the personal estate of the deceased, including the debts due him, and cause them to be appraised, and return an inventory thereof, as an administrator is required to do, and may, under the authority of the court, sell perishable articles and bring suits for debts or other property, as an administrator may do, and shall account for the money recovered. The collector may, if authorized by the court, take possession of, hold, manage, conserve, and control all real estate affected by the will in dispute, and shall discharge, pendente lite, all the duties of an administrator, including the payment of debts. He is liable to an action by a creditor of the deceased and is entitled to the protection of all provisions of law expressly relating to executors and administrators. 79 Stat. 714 (b) The collector may be allowed a commission not exceeding 10 per centum on the personal property, debts due the estate, and rentals from real estate actually collected by him. (c) Where the collector is authorized by the court to take possession of the real estate affected by the will or wills in dispute, the letters of collection shall so expressly specify, and his bond as collector, in addition to the several matters set forth in section 20–502, shall specifically include the faithful performance of his duties with respect to the real estate.