Section 2431 Of Article 3. Payment Of Debts And Expenses From California Probate Code >> Division 4. >> Part 4. >> Chapter 6. >> Article 3.
2431
. (a) Subject to subdivision (d), the guardian or conservator
may petition the court under Section 2403 for instructions when there
is doubt whether a wage claim should be paid under this section.
(b) The guardian or conservator shall promptly pay wage claims for
work done or services rendered for the ward or conservatee within 30
days prior to the date the petition for appointment of the guardian
or conservator was filed. The payments made pursuant to this
subdivision shall not exceed nine hundred dollars ($900) to each
claimant. If there is insufficient money to pay all the claims
described in this subdivision up to nine hundred dollars ($900), the
money available shall be distributed among such claimants in
proportion to the amount of their respective claims.
(c) After the payments referred to in subdivision (b) have been
made, the guardian or conservator shall pay wage claims for work done
or services rendered for the ward or conservatee within 90 days
prior to the date the petition for appointment of the guardian or
conservator was filed, excluding the claims described in subdivision
(b). The payments made pursuant to this subdivision shall not exceed
one thousand one hundred dollars ($1,100) to each claimant. If there
is insufficient money to pay all the claims described in this
subdivision up to one thousand one hundred dollars ($1,100), the
money available shall be distributed among such claimants in
proportion to the amounts of their respective claims.
(d) The guardian or conservator may require sworn claims to be
presented. If there is reasonable cause to believe that the claim is
not valid, the guardian or conservator may refuse to pay the claim in
whole or in part but shall pay any part thereof that is not disputed
without prejudice to the claimant's rights as to the balance of the
claim. The guardian or conservator shall withhold sufficient money to
cover the disputed portion until the claimant has had a reasonable
opportunity to establish the validity of the claim by bringing an
action, either in the claimant's own name or through an assignee,
against the guardian or conservator.
(e) If the guardian or conservator neglects or refuses to pay all
or any portion of a claim which is not in dispute, the court shall
order the guardian or conservator to do so upon the informal
application of any wage claimant or the assignee or legal
representative of such claimant.