5. Duty to Account

5. Duty to Account

A personal representative has the duty to account to the beneficiaries for the estate. The account shall: 

(1) show the opening balance (including capital assets) and closing balance;

(2) give details of movement of assets, incomes and expenditure of the estate;

(3) give details of the whereabouts of all properties (including cash) of the estate which the personal representative is duty bound to administer; and

(4) support the account with documentary evidence.

The duty to account does not arise only at the end of the administration. A personal representative has to account to the beneficiaries as to the aforesaid from time to time during administration e.g. every 3, 6 or 12 months. Failure to render proper accounts without reasonable excuses is a ground for the Court to remove such representative from office.