(a) If, at the death of any person, there shall be an unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claim or an outstanding bond, note, recognizance or undertaking upon which he was principal, surety, or indemnitor and on which at the time of his death the liability was unmatured, contingent or unliquidated, then the Court of Probate shall, on the petition of either (1) a claimant who has duly presented his claim or (2) the fiduciary to whom an unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claim has been duly presented, after notice to such persons as the court shall direct, conduct a hearing to determine whether a reserve from the assets of the estate should be established to secure the payment of the unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claim. Following such hearing the Court of Probate shall issue an order that (A) no reserve be established or (B) the fiduciary establish a reserve from the assets of the estate in such amount as the court may deem reasonable to secure the payment of the unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claim when the amount thereof shall become due and payable; provided in no event shall the amount of such reserve exceed the difference between the amount of any such unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claim and the value of any security or collateral to which the creditor may resort for payment of such claim. In fixing the amount to be reserved for the payment of any such claim the Court of Probate shall determine the value of any security or collateral to which the creditor may resort for payment of such claim. The order of the Court of Probate concerning the establishment of a reserve shall discharge the fiduciary from all personal liability with respect to such unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claim, with the exception of the fiduciary's obligation to maintain any reserve so established.

(b) Any such reserve shall be retained by the fiduciary for such period or periods as the Court of Probate shall direct for the purpose of being applied to the payment of such claim when matured, fixed and liquidated; except that the Court of Probate shall retain jurisdiction over the reserve and may from time to time issue orders regarding the continuation and management of the reserve, including the power to direct the disposition of income and principal. The fiduciary, in managing the reserve, shall be entitled to reasonable compensation and reimbursement for all expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, which shall be paid out of the reserve. Such portion of the reserve as is not needed to pay the claim when matured, fixed and liquidated shall be distributed according to law by the fiduciary as directed by the Court of Probate.

(P.A. 87-384, S. 7.)

History: Sec. 45-230h transferred to Sec. 45a-359 in 1991.