A personal representative is the person chosen to handle a dead person's belongings and money. This law says that person is not personally responsible for debts or contracts made while doing that job, as long as they make clear they are acting for the estate. If they cause harm through their own fault, they can be personally responsible. People owed money can make claims against the estate itself, not just against the personal representative personally.
473.820. of . — 1. Unless otherwise provided in the contract, a personal representative is not individually on a contract properly entered into in his in the course of , unless he fails to reveal his and identify the in the contract.
2. A personal representative 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 is personally at .
3. based on contracts entered into by a personal representative in his fiduciary capacity, on obligations arising from ownership or control of the estate, or on torts committed in the course of estate may be asserted against the estate by against the personal representative in his fiduciary capacity, whether or not the personal representative is individually liable therefor.
4. Issues of liability as between the estate and the personal representative individually may be determined in a proceeding for , or , or other proceeding.
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Source & history notes
(L. 1980 S.B. 637) Effective 1-01-81
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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.