New Jersey § 3a:2a-51

§ 3a:2a-51.

a. A personal representative is under a duty to settle and distribute the estate of

the decedent in accordance with the terms of any probated and effective will and applicable

law, and as expeditiously and efficiently as is consistent with the best interests

of the estate. He shall use the authority conferred upon him by law, the terms of the will, if

any, and any order in proceedings to which he is a party for the best interests of

successors to the estate. b. A personal representative shall not be surcharged for acts of administration or

distribution if the conduct in question was authorized at the time. Subject to other obligations of administration, a probated will is authority to

administer and distribute the estate according to its terms. An order of appointment of a personal representative is authority to distribute

apparently intestate assets to the heirs of the decedent if, at the time of distribution,

the personal representative is not aware of a pending proceeding to probate a will

or to determine heirs, a proceeding to vacate an order entered in an earlier proceeding

to probate a will, a formal proceeding questioning his appointment or fitness to continue. Nothing in this section affects the duty of the personal representative to administer

and distribute the estate in accordance with the rights of claimants and others interested

in the estate. c. Except as to proceedings which do not survive the death of the decedent, a personal

representative of a decedent domiciled in this State at his death has the same standing

to sue and be sued in the courts of this State and the courts of any other jurisdiction

as his decedent had immediately prior to death. d. Except as otherwise provided by the terms of a decedent's will, the personal representative

shall observe the standards in dealing with the estate assets that would be observed

by a prudent man dealing with the property of another, and if the personal representative

has special skills or is named personal representative on the basis of representations

of special skills or expertise, he is under a duty to use those skills.