§560:3-1205  Estates of $100,000 or less;
clerk of court to administer.  If a person dies leaving property in this
State of a total value not exceeding $100,000, and a personal representative of
the estate has not been appointed in the State, the clerk of the court of the
judicial circuit in which the decedent was residing or domiciled at the time of
the decedent's death or left property may, upon the verified petition of the
clerk or of any interested person, obtain an order authorizing the clerk to administer
the estate, and, as the personal representative, the clerk shall collect and
receive the property and administer the same.  The order may be made without
notice or hearing, at the discretion of the court.  Except as otherwise
specifically required or authorized by law or where the clerk may be interested
as an heir, or devisee, no clerk of any court shall act as personal
representative of any estate where the value of the same is in excess of
$100,000.  No fees shall be allowed the clerk, except as set forth in section
560:3-1211. [L 1996, c 288, pt of §1; am L 2000, c 48, §7]