Probate and Administration.
[CAP. 10
Official Ad-
to take
of property
person until
14. (1) It shall be lawful for the Official Administrator,
Power to
whenever he thinks it expedient to do so and upon such
ministrator
evidence of death as he deems sufficient, to receive or take possession
of the private papers, moneys, goods, chattels,
of deceased
and other movable property whatsoever of any deceased
person which may be found within the Colony, and to provide for the safe custody thereof, until probate of the will of such deceased person or administration of his estate has been granted by the court: Provided always that the Official Administrator may, in lieu thereof, if he thinks fit, issue forthwith a commission of appraisement of all or any of such property.
(2) In case of the death of any citizen of the United States of America in the Colony, the Official Administrator shall at once inform the nearest consular officer of the said United States of the fact, in order that the necessary information may be immediately forwarded to persons interested. The said consular officer shall have the right to appear, either personally or by delegate, in all proceedings on behalf of the absent heirs or creditors until they are otherwise represented.
Estates of U.S.A.
citizens of
[cf. Cap. 174,
15 (2).]
15. Any person who, without lawful authority or
Punishment
excuse in that behalf-
of person unlawfully removing
Colony
deceased
(a) removes or attempts to remove out of the Colony
out of the
any such property as is mentioned in section 14; or
property of
(b) destroys, conceals, or refuses to yield up any such
person.
property on demand to the Official Administrator,
shall upon summary conviction be liable to a fine of two
22 of 1950.
thousand dollars, and to imprisonment, without hard labour, for six months.
Schedule.
Lien on property of
person for
deceased
incurred
16. The Official Administrator shall have a lien upon all property mentioned in section 14 for the reasonable expenses incurred by him in respect thereof in carrying out
expenses
the provisions of the said section, and such expenses shall
under s. 14.
also constitute a primary charge on the estate of the deceased
person.
having or
17. (1) When any person dies leaving a will within
Person
the Colony, the person in whose keeping such will has been deposited, or who finds such will after the testator's death,
finding
produce it.
will to
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