Read 1st time February 3, 2000, and 1000 copies ordered printed.
ANNE C. WALKER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 473.743, RSMo 1994, relating to public administrators, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the same subject.
Section A. Section 473.743, RSMo 1994, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 473.743, to read as follows:
473.743. 1. It shall be the duty of the public administrator to take into his or her charge and custody the estates of all deceased persons, and the person and estates of all minors, and the estates or person and estate of all incapacitated persons in [his] the public administrator's county, in the following cases:
(1) When a stranger dies intestate in the county without relations, or dies leaving a will, and the personal representative named is absent, or fails to qualify;
(2) When persons die intestate without any known heirs;
(3) When persons unknown die or are found dead in the county;
(4) When money, property, papers or other estate are left in a situation exposed to loss or damage, and no other person administers on the same;
(5) When any estate of any person who dies intestate therein, or elsewhere, is left in the county liable to be injured, wasted or lost, when the intestate does not leave a known husband, widow or heirs in this state;
(6) The persons of all minors under the age of fourteen years, whose parents are dead, and who have no legal guardian or conservator;
(7) The estates of all minors whose parents are dead, or, if living, refuse or neglect to qualify as conservator, or, having qualified have been removed, or are, from any cause, incompetent to act as such conservator, and who have no one authorized by law to take care of and manage their estate;
(8) The estates or person and estate of all disabled or incapacitated persons in [his] the public administrator's county who have no legal guardian or conservator, and no one competent to take charge of such estate, or to act as such guardian or conservator, can be found, or is known to the court having jurisdiction, who will qualify;
(9) Where from any other good cause, the court shall order [him] the public administrator to take possession of any estate to prevent its being injured, wasted, purloined or lost.
2. In the event an action is brought against a public administrator pursuant to sections 473.730 to 473.773 and
the public administrator prevails in such action, the court may award reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses to
the public administrator.
Missouri House of Representatives