Section 13206 Of Chapter 5. Affidavit Procedure For Real Property Of Small Value From California Probate Code >> Division 8. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 5.
13206
. (a) Subject to subdivisions (b), (c), (d), and (e), if
proceedings for the administration of the decedent's estate are
commenced, or if the decedent's personal representative has consented
to use of the procedure provided by this chapter and the personal
representative later requests that the property be restored to the
estate, each person who is designated as a successor of the decedent
in a certified copy of an affidavit issued under Section 13202 is
liable for:
(1) The restitution to the decedent's estate of the property the
person took under the certified copy of the affidavit if the person
still has the property, together with (A) the net income the person
received from the property and (B) if the person encumbered the
property after the certified copy of the affidavit was issued, the
amount necessary to satisfy the balance of the encumbrance as of the
date the property is restored to the estate.
(2) The restitution to the decedent's estate of the fair market
value of the property if the person no longer has the property,
together with (A) the net income the person received from the
property prior to disposing of it and (B) interest from the date of
disposition at the rate payable on a money judgment on the fair
market value of the property. For the purposes of this paragraph, the
"fair market value of the property" is the fair market value,
determined as of the time of the disposition of the property, of the
property the person took under the certified copy of the affidavit,
less the amount of any liens and encumbrances on the property at the
time the certified copy of the affidavit was issued.
(b) Subject to subdivision (d), if the person fraudulently
executed or filed the affidavit under this chapter, the person is
liable under this section for restitution to the decedent's estate of
three times the fair market value of the property. For the purposes
of this subdivision, the "fair market value of the property" is the
fair market value, determined as of the time the certified copy of
the affidavit was issued, of the property the person took under the
certified copy of the affidavit, less the amount of any liens and
encumbrances on the property at that time.
(c) Subject to subdivision (d), if proceedings for the
administration of the decedent's estate are commenced and a person
designated as a successor of the decedent in a certified copy of an
affidavit issued under Section 13202 made a significant improvement
to the property taken by the person under the certified copy of the
affidavit in the good faith belief that the person was the successor
of the decedent to that property, the person is liable for whichever
of the following the decedent's estate elects:
(1) The restitution of the property, as improved, to the estate of
the decedent upon the condition that the estate reimburse the person
making restitution for (A) the amount by which the improvement
increases the fair market value of the property restored, determined
as of the time of restitution, and (B) the amount paid by the person
for principal and interest on any liens or encumbrances that were on
the property at the time the certified copy of the affidavit was
issued.
(2) The restoration to the decedent's estate of the fair market
value of the property, determined as of the time of the issuance of
the certified copy of the affidavit under Section 13202, less the
amount of any liens and encumbrances on the property at that time,
together with interest on the net amount at the rate payable on a
money judgment running from the date of the issuance of the certified
copy of the affidavit.
(d) The property and amount required to be restored to the estate
under this section shall be reduced by any property or amount paid by
the person to satisfy a liability under Section 13204 or 13205.
(e) An action to enforce the liability under this section may be
brought only by the personal representative of the estate of the
decedent. Whether or not the personal representative brings an action
under this section, the personal representative may enforce the
liability only to the extent necessary to protect the interests of
the heirs, devisees, and creditors of the decedent.
(f) An action to enforce the liability under this section is
forever barred three years after the certified copy of the affidavit
is issued under Section 13202, or three years after the discovery of
the fraud, whichever is later. The three-year period specified in
this subdivision is not tolled for any reason.