(a) If an applicant seeks to have an exemption set apart out of real property located in town which exceeds in value the amount of the exemption which he claims and to which he is entitled to complete his legal exemption and such realty cannot be so divided as to give an exemption of that value, the judge of the probate court may pass an order that, should such property be thereafter sold by virtue of any order, judgment, or decree of any court in this state, so much of the proceeds of the sale as may be necessary to make up, when added to the other exempted property of the applicant, if any, the full amount of the exemption allowed by law shall be paid over to the judge of the probate court by the officer making the sale to be invested in property selected by the applicant by some proper person appointed by such judge, which property shall constitute the exemption of the applicant or a part thereof, as the case may be, after the order of the probate court and the deed of reinvestment have been recorded by the clerk of the superior court.

(b) Should any ministerial officer of this state, upon being shown a certified copy of the order of the judge of the probate court provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section, fail to retain and pay over to such judge the proceeds as required or should any such judge receiving the proceeds fail to appoint the person required to have the proceeds invested and fail to turn over the proceeds to the person so appointed, such officer or judge and his sureties shall be liable to the applicant for the full amount of the money and 20 percent interest thereon for the period of time he wrongfully withholds the money or any part thereof.