Section 3-704
A personal representative shall proceed expeditiously with the settlement and distribution of a decedent's estate and, except as otherwise specified or ordered in regard to a supervised personal representative, do so without adjudication, order, or direction of the court, but the personal representative may invoke the jurisdiction of the court, in proceedings authorized by this code, to resolve questions concerning the estate or its administration.
Comment
This section is intended to confer authority on the personal representative to initiate a proceeding at any time when it is necessary to resolve a question relating to administration. Section 3-105 grants broad subject matter jurisdiction to the probate court which covers a proceeding initiated for any purpose other than those covered by more explicit provisions dealing with testacy proceedings, proceedings for supervised administration, proceedings concerning disputed claims and proceedings to close estates.
Massachusetts comment
G.L. c. 195, § 5A also authorizes an executor or administrator to seek specific authority to exercise powers. The UPC authorization of sales of real estate is not adopted, § 3-715. G.L. c. 202 is retained as the procedure for securing a license to sell. Absent a power granted in a will, personal representatives will have no authority to sell or mortgage real estate without a license.