State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > Rhode-island > Title-8 > Chapter-8-9 > 8-9-18SECTION 8-9-18
§ 8-9-18 Judicial aid in taking possessionof property of estates. – If any person has or is suspected of having under his or her control anyproperty or documents belonging to the estate of a deceased person or personunder guardianship, or any thing which may tend to disclose the condition ofthe estate, and on demand therefor by the executor, administrator, guardian,conservator, or custodian refuses to deliver them to him or her without legaljustification for the refusal; or if the person claims to have a lien thereonand refuses to disclose the amount and particulars of his or her claim; or ifany person is suspected of having concealed, embezzled, or conveyed away any ofthe personal estate of the deceased person or ward, the probate court may, uponthe written application of the executor, administrator, guardian, conservator,or custodian or any other party in interest, cite the person to appear beforethe court, and may examine him or her on oath concerning the matters complainedof; and if he or she refuses to appear or to answer the interrogatories put tohim or her by the court, it may adjudge him or her in contempt and may commithim or her therefor to the adult correctional institutions until he or sheshall submit to the order of the court or be legally discharged. The person soexamined shall not be excused from answering any question on the ground thathis or her answer will tend to criminate him or her, but his or her answershall not be used as evidence against him or her in any criminal prosecutionexcept for perjury.
