Upon the entry of a decree establishing the death of a person domiciled in the Commonwealth, based in whole or in part upon his absence from his place of residence, the real and personal property of the absentee shall be administered by his personal representative as in the case of other decedents. However, the personal representative shall make no distribution of such property to the persons entitled thereto by will or by intestacy, nor shall such persons acquire indefeasible title thereto, except under decree of court. The court, in awarding distribution, shall require that a refunding bond, with or without security and in such form and amount as the court shall direct, shall be executed by each distributee and filed with the clerk. The bond shall be conditioned that, if it shall later be established that the absentee was in fact alive at the time of distribution, the distributee upon demand will return the property received by him or, if it has been disposed of, will make such restitution therefor as the court shall deem equitable. Should a distributee not execute the bond, the court shall appoint a trustee to receive and hold his share until further order of the court.
Cross References. Section 5703 is referred to in section 5706 of this title.
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