45-3-104: Claims against decedent; necessity of administration.

A. No proceeding to enforce a claim against the estate of a decedent or his successors may be revived or commenced before the appointment of a personal representative. After the appointment and until distribution, all proceedings and actions to enforce a claim against the estate are governed by the procedure prescribed by Sections 3-101 through 3-1204 [45-3-101 to 45-3-1204 NMSA 1978]. After distribution a creditor whose claim has not been barred may recover from the distributees as provided in Section 3-1004 [45-3-1004 NMSA 1978] or from a personal representative individually liable as provided in Section 3-1005 [45-3-1005 NMSA 1978].

B. Subsection A of this section shall have no application to a proceeding by a secured creditor of the decedent to enforce his right to his security except as to any deficiency judgment which might be sought therein.