The personal representative of any person leaving property not devised or bequeathed, or where the devisees or legatees are incapable of taking and such representative is unable to ascertain any lawful heirs or distributees or persons capable of taking within six months after the grant of letters testamentary or of administration, must give notice thereof in some newspaper published in the state once a week for three successive weeks; but it shall not be necessary for any personal representative to institute escheat proceedings under this chapter until the debts of the decedent have been paid.
Ala. Code § 43-6-2 (1975)