Can family members take over deceased’s property?

Dear Mirror Lawyer, Is it lawful for family members to take over the properties of a deceased person, rent his houses, use his cars and run the deceased’s business all with a view to raising money to organise the funeral of the deceased member?

Solomon Aryeetey, Osu, Accra

Dear Aryeetey, On the death of any person in Ghana, his or her personal properties pass immediately to the temporal care of his personal representatives to manage according to law.

Personal representatives are made up of persons appointed executors in the Will of the deceased person or those qualified to be appointed administrators or administratrix in the case of those who died without making a Will. 

Executors and administrators are appointed by the court but until the appointment is made, the estate, in between death and the appointments devolve  on the heirs and assigns or on the successor if the whole estate devolves under