57Power of Public Trustee to institute inquiry as to validity of claim against estate

57 Power of Public Trustee to institute inquiry as to validity of claim against estate

[Section 57 Amended by No. 20 of 1995, s. 3 and Sched. 1 ]

(1)  When any claim is made by any person, whether as a creditor or otherwise, against an estate, the Public Trustee, if in doubt as to the validity of such claim, may institute such inquiries as he thinks proper regarding such claim, and, by a notice in writing, may require the claimant and any other persons to appear before the Court to answer on oath all questions that may be put to them respectively with reference to such claim.

(2)  The Public Trustee shall pay or tender to any person so summoned the amount to which such person would be entitled if he were summoned as a witness to appear before the Court.

(3)  If, without valid excuse, the claimant fails to attend pursuant to such notice, or refuses or fails to answer truly any relevant question put to him by or on behalf of the Public Trustee, it shall be lawful for the Public Trustee, by direction of the Court, to reject the claim.