Upon the rendition of a judgment against a personal representative upon any liability of the decedent and a return of writ of execution marked nulla bona, the plaintiff may at once bring an action on the bond of the personal representative and may recover judgment against the principal and the sureties in the same action. If the principal has removed beyond the limits of this state or has died and has no legal representative, the plaintiff may bring an action against the sureties on the bond alone, without joining the principal.