Art. 3396.14 Security of independent administrator

If you're an independent administrator handling someone's estate, you usually don't have to put up money or a bond to guarantee you'll do the job properly. This is one of the benefits of being an independent administrator instead of a regular one. The only time this changes is if the deceased person's will specifically says security is required.

However, this doesn't mean no one can ever challenge you. If someone with a stake in the estate, like an heir, someone named in the will, or a creditor who is owed money, thinks you should have to post security, they can ask the court to require it. The court will then hold a hearing where both sides can present their case. If the judge agrees that security is needed, the court will decide how much is enough to protect the estate and the people involved.

In short, independent administrators start out free from this requirement, but that protection isn't absolute. Anyone with a real interest in the estate can push back and ask a judge to step in if they have concerns about how the administrator is handling things.