ARTICLE 12. POWERS OF CLERK IN VACATION OF COUNTY COURT.

§44-12-1. What clerk may do in vacation of county court.

The clerk of any county court in the vacation of such court, may appoint appraisers of estates of decedents, admit wills to record, appoint and qualify executors, administrators, guardians, curators and committees, and require and take from them the necessary bonds, upon the same procedure and proof, and in the same manner and with like effect for the time being, as such county court could do if in session; but no contest as to such probate or appointment shall be heard or determined by such clerk, and when notice of contests is given the matter shall stand continued until the next regular session of the county court.

§44-12-2. Report by clerk to county court; hearing on same.

The probate of every will and the appointment of every appraiser of the estate of a decedent, executor, administrator, guardian, curator and committee so made by such clerk, shall be reported by him to the next regular session of the county court, when, if no objection be made thereto and none appears to the court, the court shall confirm the same. But if objection be made by any person interested, the county court shall hear and determine the same, and shall proceed in relation thereto in the same manner as if the application for the probate of such will, or for the appointment of such appraiser of the estate of a decedent, executor, administrator, guardian, curator or committee had been made to such court in the first instance. And the court may make from time to time, pending such proceedings, such orders as it may deem necessary for the protection and safekeeping of the estate of the testator, intestate or ward.

§44-12-3. Confirmation of action of clerk.

When the probate of such will, or the appointment of such appraisers of estate of decedents, or the appointment of such executor, administrator, guardian, curator or committee is confirmed by the court, with or without contest, the same shall be held and treated in all respects as if the will had been probated and admitted to record, or the appointment had been made, by the county court in the first instance.

§44-12-4. Costs.

When objection is made to the action of the clerk, as mentioned in the second section of this article, the party prevailing in the trial of such objection shall recover from the opposite party his costs.