If the personal property in the hands of a guardian or conservator is insufficient to pay the debts of the ward, with the charges of managing his estate, the guardian or conservator may be licensed to sell the ward's real estate for that purpose or for the purpose of raising money with which to pay, in whole or in part, any encumbrance existing thereon when the title thereto came to his ward, in like manner and upon like terms, except as hereinafter provided, as are provided for a sale of real estate by an executor or administrator.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 202, § 5