(a) Unless otherwise provided, an order closing an estate as provided in § 62-3-1001 terminates an appointment of a personal representative and relieves the personal representative’s attorney of record of any further duties to the court.

(b) A personal representative may resign his position by filing a written statement of resignation with the court and providing twenty days’ written notice to the persons known to be interested in the estate. If no one applies or petitions for appointment of a successor representative within the time indicated in the notice, the filed statement of resignation is ineffective as a termination of appointment and in any event is effective only upon the appointment and qualification of a successor representative and delivery of the assets to him. When the resignation is effective, the personal representative’s attorney of record shall be relieved of any further duties to the court.