Art. 3301 Payment of estate debts; court order

When someone is handling an estate (called a succession representative), they can't just pay the estate's bills on their own. They need to get permission from the court first before paying any debts the estate owes.

There are two exceptions to this rule, covered under separate articles (3224 and 3302). Outside of those specific situations, the representative has to go through the court to get approval before making payments on behalf of the estate.

This rule exists to protect the estate and the people who are supposed to inherit from it. By requiring court approval, it helps make sure debts are legitimate and properly verified before money leaves the estate. It also gives the court oversight over how the estate's assets are being used, so a representative can't mismanage funds or pay bills that shouldn't be paid.