Section 53-4-63. Payment of debts of testator

   (a) Unless otherwise directed, the debts of the testator shall be paid out of the residuum. Unless otherwise provided in the will, a residuary gift or any part thereof, including a residuary gift to a surviving spouse in lieu of year's support, shall be deemed a gift of the net residuum or part thereof remaining after all debts and expenses of administration, including taxes, have been paid.

(b) If the residuum proves to be insufficient for the payment of the testator's debts and the expenses of administration, then general testamentary gifts shall abate pro rata to make up the deficiency. If general testamentary gifts are insufficient, then demonstrative testamentary gifts shall abate in the same manner. If both general and demonstrative gifts are insufficient, then specific gifts shall abate in the same manner.

(c) After the estate assets in the executor's hands are exhausted, a creditor may proceed against each beneficiary for that beneficiary's pro rata share of the debts to the extent a testamentary gift has been distributed to that beneficiary.

(d) Realty and personalty shall be equally liable for the payment of debts.

(e) Unless otherwise expressly directed in the will, nothing in this Code section shall be deemed to limit any rights to reimbursement for federal estate taxes, generation-skipping transfer taxes, or any other taxes that may be available to personal representatives under federal law.

Code 1981, § 53-4-63, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 504, § 10.