72-3-606. Possession and protection of estate. (1) Except as otherwise provided by a decedent's will, a personal representative has a right to and shall take possession or control of the decedent's property, except that any real property or tangible personal property may be left with or surrendered to the person presumptively entitled to the property unless or until, in the judgment of the personal representative, possession of the property by the personal representative will be necessary for purposes of administration. The request by a personal representative for delivery of any property possessed by an heir or devisee is conclusive evidence, in any action against the heir or devisee for possession of the property, that the possession of the property by the personal representative is necessary for purposes of administration.

(2) The personal representative shall pay taxes on and take all steps reasonably necessary for the management, protection, and preservation of the estate in the personal representative's possession. The personal representative may maintain an action to recover possession of property or to determine the title to the property.