2-7-802. Expenses of administration; standard; how paid.

(a) The personal representative is authorized to incur and pay at any time, subject to approval upon hearing his final report and accounting, all reasonable and necessary expenses in the care, management and settlement of the estate. The personal representative's authorization shall be exercised with the judgment and care under the circumstances then prevailing which men of prudence, discretion and intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs. Subject to the foregoing standard, the expenses may include but are not limited to services relating to:

(i) Bank accounts and safekeeping facilities;

(ii) Appraisals;

(iii) Surveys;

(iv) Title and lien searches and certifications as to real or personal property;

(v) Sales of real property and personal property, including broker's commissions, premiums for title insurance, services in connection with abstracts of title and auctioneer's fees;

(vi) Maintenance, repair, care and protection of estate assets, including such expenses as are normally incident to crops and livestock;

(vii) Property insurance of all types and liability insurance;

(viii) Events incident to distribution of estate assets, such as stock transfer fees and other normal expenses incident to transfer of title;

(ix) Preparation of all necessary tax returns and reports, and audit proceedings in connection therewith, relating to the decedent and the estate and the distribution of the estate;

(x) Publications and mailings;

(xi) Location and identification of heirs and beneficiaries; and

(xii) Expenses, fees and costs of ancillary administration in a state other than Wyoming.

(b) Except as otherwise directed by the decedent's will, the expenses shall be paid first out of income of the estate received by the personal representative, then from the residue of the estate.