In an unusual case an Executor has been held in contempt of Court.
It seems to have been a typical family situation with one of three siblings taking on the role of Executor. Unfortunately, he then proceeded to do nothing useful in the administration of the estate and eventually the others applied to Court have him removed. This would have been awkward enough because there would be adverse cost consequences for him, but things got worse when he failed to comply with the Court’s order that he give a full account on oath explaining what he had been doing and where the assets were.
When the court discovered that the erstwhile Executor had not done what he was told he was arrested. We do not know whether he has had to spend time in custody, or pay a fine, or both.
The moral of the story is do not agree to act as an Executor (or an administrator of an intestate estate for that matter) unless you are prepared to do the work.