California · Probate Code

PROB §8870: (a) On petition by the personal representative or an interested person, the court may order that a citation be issued to a person to answer interrogatories, or to appear before the court and be examin

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

A court may order a person to answer questions or appear under oath about property wrongfully taken from an estate, or about documents or claims belonging to the deceased. Disobedience can be punished as contempt.

Read the full statutory text

(a) On petition by the personal representative or an interested person, the court may order that a citation be issued to a person to answer interrogatories, or to appear before the court and be examined under oath, or both, concerning any of the following allegations: (1) The person has wrongfully taken, concealed, or disposed of property in the estate of the decedent. (2) The person has knowledge or possession of any of the following: (A) A deed, conveyance, bond, contract, or other writing that contains evidence of or tends to disclose the right, title, interest, or claim of the decedent to property. (B) A claim of the decedent. (C) A lost will of the decedent. (b) If the person does not reside in the county in which the estate is being administered, the superior court either of the county in which the person resides or of the county in which the estate is being administered may issue a citation under this section. (c) Disobedience of a citation issued pursuant to this section may be punished as a contempt of the court issuing the citation. (d) Notice to the personal representative of a proceeding under subdivision (a) shall be given for the period and in the manner provided in Section 1220. Other persons requesting notice of the hearing pursuant to Section 1250 shall be notified by the person filing the petition as set forth in Section 1252.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.