Article 57 — Administration and Partition of the Estate

1. 1.

   Upon the opening of the succession, the Royal Chancellery may appoint an administrator of the estate upon the application of any interested person or on its own initiative where the circumstances require.

2. 2.

   The administrator shall:

   1. Inventory the assets and liabilities of the estate.
   2. Discharge the debts and obligations of the deceased from the estate.
   3. Distribute the remaining estate to the heirs and legatees according to the testamentary disposition or the rules of intestate succession.
3. 3.

   The heirs may agree upon the partition of the estate among themselves. Where they cannot agree, any heir may apply to the Royal Chancellery for a determination.

4. 4.

   Where the estate includes property situated in a foreign jurisdiction, the administration and partition of that property is subject to the law of that jurisdiction to the extent mandatorily applicable. The administrator shall cooperate with the authorities of such jurisdictions.

5. 5.

   The costs of administration, including the administrator’s reasonable remuneration, are borne by the estate.