§560:2-516  Duty of custodian of will; liability.  After the death of a testator and on request of an interested person, a person having custody of a will of the testator shall either deliver it with reasonable promptness to a person able to secure its probate or if none is known, deposit it with an appropriate court.  A person who knowingly and wilfully fails to so deliver or deposit a will is liable to any person aggrieved for any damages that may be sustained by the failure, and the court may award treble damages.  A person who wilfully refuses to deliver a will after being ordered by the court in a proceeding brought for the purpose of compelling delivery is subject to penalty for contempt of court.  Proceedings under this section shall be brought in the probate proceeding relating to the will. [L 1996, c 288, pt of §1]

 

Rules of Court

 

  Deposit of will without probate, see HPR rule 74.