(a) If in any county there is, or may hereafter be created, a special chancery, circuit, criminal, county or probate court where the clerk and master or clerk is clerk of the special court by virtue of such clerk's office in the county, no additional salary shall be allowed such clerk and master or clerk for transacting business of such special courts, but the services shall be performed by virtue of the office the clerk and master or clerk of the special court holds and for the salary provided for such officer in the class to which the county belongs by the classification in § 8-24-101; provided, that:

(1) When the clerk and master, or clerk of the court, cannot, for want of time, properly and efficiently conduct the affairs and transact the business of clerk and master or clerk of the special court, then such official shall file a sworn petition in the special court with the chancellor or judge holding the special court, in term or at chambers, in the manner and form provided in §§ 8-20-101 — 8-20-106 and have action taken thereon as is provided; and

(2) Where the clerk and master or clerk of the special court holds such office by appointment of the chancellor or judge of the special court, the clerk and master or clerk of the special court shall make application to the chancellor or judge of the special court, by sworn petition, in term or at chambers, setting forth the facts, showing the approximate amount of fees collected yearly in the office, and whether or not a deputy or deputies should be appointed for the proper and efficient conduct of affairs of the office and the salary to be allowed such deputy, and have such proceedings thereon as to the fixing of the salary of any deputy or deputies as provided by §§ 8-20-101 — 8-20-106.

(b) The provisions of this section prohibiting additional salaries or compensation to clerks and clerks and masters of special courts shall not apply to chancery courts now having or hereafter having exclusive jurisdiction and powers with respect to the probate of wills and administration of estates. When such clerk or clerk and master shall serve as clerk or clerk and master of a chancery court now having or hereafter having exclusive jurisdiction and powers with respect to the probate of wills and administration of estates, it shall be lawful for such clerk or clerk and master to receive additional compensation, and payable as may be provided in the law, and any amendments thereto, creating such court.