(a) The public administrator shall have, in respect to the several estates in the public administrator’s hands, all the rights and powers and shall be subject to all the duties and liabilities of other personal representatives.

(b) After the expiration of the term of office of a public administrator or the public administrator’s resignation as public administrator, the public administrator shall continue, subject to the provisions of Articles 9 and 10 of this Chapter, to administer the several estates previously committed to the public administrator until the public administrator has fully administered the same, and the public administrator’s bonds shall continue in effect as to all such estates. (1868-9, c. 113, s. 7; 1876-7, c. 239; Code, s. 1395; Rev., s. 21; C.S., s. 21; 1973, c. 1329, s. 3; 2011-344, s. 4.)