Quora Answer: What are the Possible Consequences if a Legal Guardian Does Not Disclose Assets to the Executor of the Will?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “What are the possible consequences of legal guardian not disclosing assets to the executor of a last will and testament?”

Hiding assets that do not belong to you, with the intention to appropriate it, or deny it to the rightful heir is a major offence.  Depending on the nature of this non-disclosure, and the type of neglect of the fiduciary responsibility, it may be fraud, theft, criminal misappropriation of property and more.  Depending on how these assets were disposed of, we can add money laundering and other charges.  On top of that, there is the accompanying civil action to recover the assets, which lead to asset seizure and significant financial penalties. In summary, you go to jail, and you go there broke.