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Appointment; purpose - 20 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 751

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                               SUBCHAPTER F
                MASTERS, AUDITORS, EXAMINERS, GUARDIANS AD
                       LITEM AND TRUSTEES AD LITEM

     Sec.
     751.  Appointment; purpose.
     752.  Compensation.
     753.  Subpoenas.
     754.  Power to administer oaths (Repealed).
     § 751.  Appointment; purpose.
        The orphans' court division may appoint:
            (1)  Masters.--A master to investigate any issue of fact
        and to report his findings of fact, conclusions of law and
        recommendations to the court.
            (2)  Auditors of accounts of fiduciaries.--Except in the
        circumstances prohibited by law, an auditor to examine and
        audit an account and to determine distribution.
            (3)  Auditors to state accounts.--An auditor to state an
        account when a proper account cannot be obtained from a
        fiduciary or other person required to state an account.
            (4)  Examiners of assets.--By general rule or special
        order, an examiner or examiners to make periodic or special
        examinations of assets of estates or trusts, and to require
        all persons in whose custody or control such assets may be
        held to present them for examination.
            (5)  Guardians and trustees ad litem.--On petition or on
        its own motion, a guardian or a trustee ad litem to represent
        the interest, not already represented by a fiduciary, of:
                (i)  a person not sui juris; or
                (ii)  an absentee; or
                (iii)  a presumed decedent; or
                (iv)  an unborn or unascertained person.
            (6)  Representation of parties in interest.--Persons
        interested in an estate as beneficiary or heir, if minors or
        otherwise legally incapacitated, and possible unborn or
        unascertained persons, may be represented in a judicial
        proceeding by a guardian or trustee ad litem if the court
        deems necessary. The court may dispense with the appointment
        of a guardian or trustee ad litem for a person who is a minor
        or otherwise legally incapacitated, unborn or unascertained
        if there is a living person sui juris having a similar
        interest or if such person is or would be issue of a living
        ancestor sui juris and interested in the estate whose
        interest is not adverse to his. If the whereabouts of any
        beneficiary or heir is unknown or if there is doubt as to his
        existence, the court shall provide for service of notice and
        representation in the judicial proceeding as it deems proper.
     (Oct. 12, 1999, P.L.422, No.39, eff. 60 days; July 7, 2006,
     P.L.625, No.98, eff. 120 days)

        2006 Amendment.  Act 98 amended par. (6).

Last modified: November 27, 2007