2-7-413. Citation to persons suspected of having concealed monies; failure to appear or answer; disclosure order; proceedings generally.

(a) If the person cited refuses to appear and submit to an examination or to answer interrogatories put to him touching the matters of complaint, the court may commit him to the county jail until he submits to the order of the court or is discharged according to law. If upon examination it appears that he has concealed, embezzled, smuggled, conveyed away or disposed of any monies, goods or chattels of the decedent or has in his possession or knowledge any deeds, conveyances, bonds, contracts or other writings containing evidence of or tending to disclose the right, title, interest or claim of the decedent to any real or personal estate, claim or demand, or any lost will of the decedent, an order may be made requiring the person to disclose his knowledge thereof to the personal representative and he may be committed to the county jail until the order is complied with or he is discharged according to law.

(b) All interrogatories and answers shall be in writing, signed by the party examined and filed in the court. The order for disclosure made upon the examination is prima facie evidence of the right of the personal representative to the property in any action brought for the recovery thereof. Any judgment recovered shall be for double the value of the property as assessed by the court, or for return of the property and damages in addition thereto equal to the value of the property. In addition to the examination of the party, witnesses may be produced and examined on either side.