§44-3A-40. Fiduciary commissioners to inspect bonds of fiduciaries.

Each fiduciary commissioner shall, at least once each month, ascertain from the records of the county commission of his country what estates and fiduciary matters have been referred to him generally by the county commission or the fiduciary supervisor, since such commissioner’s last inspection of the records, and examine as to each fiduciary, in any such estate or matter, whether he has given such bond as the law requires. If the matter has been referred to such fiduciary commissioner solely for the purpose of settling a limited dispute as opposed to a general reference, no such examination of the record for the purposes set forth herein need be made by such commissioner. If it appears that the fiduciary has given no bond, or that his bond is defective, or that the surety therein has removed from the state, died, or become insolvent, or is bound already in too many other bonds, the commissioner shall make report thereof to his commission at its next term and at the same time shall have such fiduciary summoned to appear at such term to show cause why he should not give such bond as is required by law. At such term such fiduciary shall be required forthwith to give such bond as is required by law, or shall have his authority revoked. And until a fiduciary has fully administered the estate or trust under his charge, and made his final account, the commissioner shall annually make like inspections of the bonds of such fiduciary, and make like reports thereof and issue like summons whenever facts exist requiring same, and the commission shall make such order as may be warranted by the facts then determined. An appeal from the order of the county commission on any such order shall lie to the circuit court of the county, on request of the fiduciary or of the fiduciary commissioner if applied for before the end of the term of the county commission at which such order was made. When such appeal is taken, the clerk of the county commission shall certify all papers in the matter, including a copy of the bond, to the clerk of the circuit court, where the same shall be docketed and proceeded with as other appeals from the county commission.

With respect to estates or matters which have not been referred generally to a fiduciary commissioner, the fiduciary supervisor shall perform all duties required by this section to be performed by the fiduciary commissioner.