Estate of Plum

This appeal from a decree of distribution tests the responsibility of the probate judge in California to administer on his own motion the requirements of section 1020.1 of the Probate Code, which provides: “The court before making distribution of any property of a decedent to any assignee or transferee of any heir, devisee or legatee or before making distribution to any person other than an heir, devisee, or legatee pursuant to any agreement, request or instructions of any heir, devisee or legatee or of any attorney-in-fact of any heir, devisee or legatee may on the motion of any person…