The law and practice in connection with an application for a grant of representation Flashcards
What are the 3 types of grant of representation and when are they required?
1) Grant of Probate (valid will + appointed executors willing/able to act)
2) Grant of Letters of Administration With Will (valid will + no executors appointed/acting)
3) Grant of Letters of Administration (Intestacy)What is a ‘grant of representation’?
Collective name for either grant of probate (if there is a valid will) or grant of administration (if there is no valid will)
If a valid will has been left and the deceased has died testate, what should the executors apply for?
Grant of probate
If no valid will has been left and there is full intestacy, what should be administrators apply for?
Grant of administration
Where there is a valid will but no executor willing or able to act, what should the person entitled to be an administrator apply for?
Apply for a grant of administration with the will annexed
Who are the legal owners of the assets where there is no will?
Ownership of an intestate deceased’s assets does not pass to the administrators until the grant of administration has been made
Who are the legal owners of the assets where there is a valid?
Executors are the legal owners of the deceased’s estate until the will from the moment of death
Why is it vital to obtain a grant of administration?
Ownership of the deceased’s assets do not pass to the administrators until the grant of administration is made
Why is it vital to obtain a grant of probate?
While the executors have ownership of the deceased’s estate from the moment of death, the grant of probate provides evidence that they are in fact able to deal with the deceased’s property (which is often required to distribute estate)
What is a ‘common form’ grant of probate?
Grant of probate that there is no dispute associated with the will
What is a ‘solemn form’ grant of probate?
Grant of probate where there has been a dispute about the will dealt with by the Chancery Division of the High Court
Who issues grants of probate?
Principal Registry of the Family Division (i.e., Family Court) or one of its distinct registries (s 105 SCA 1981)
What is the process of obtaining a grant?
PRs must:
- File evidence that they have submitted an inheritance tax return to HMRC and paid any tax due
- Lodge a legal statement verified by a statement of truth to the probate registry
What must the legal statement to the probate registry include?
Verified by a statement of truth, the legal statement must confirm:
- Testator details. Full name of testator, any other names by which they held property, their postcode
- Death details. That the deceased has died, date of death and deceased’s domicile
- Will. Whether the deceased died testate or intestate
- Entitlement. In what manner or on what grounds the PRs are entitled to the grant
- Estate value. How much the estate is worth (gross and net)
- IHT. Submit a receipt from HMRC to prove that IHT has been paid
What else must be submitted to probate registry for an application for a grant of probate?
- Whole original will (including any codicils)
- All testamentary documents left by the deceased
- Dates of those documents
What else must be submitted to probate registry for an application for a grant of administration?
Evidence of clearing off, either:
- Evidence they are the first appropriate person to be administrator under r 8(4) NCPR
- If they are not the first appropriate person, why the people in front of them are either unable or unwilling to take on administrator
What does it mean to ‘enter a caveat’ (s 44 NCPR)?
Raising a red flag with the probate registry
What are the 3 types of grant of representation and when are they required?
1) Grant of Probate (valid will + appointed executors willing/able to act)
2) Grant of Letters of Administration With Will (valid will + no executors appointed/acting)
3) Grant of Letters of Administration (Intestacy)
What are the requirements for appointing an attorney to act for an executor/administrator AFTER the grant has been taken out?
1) Maximum 12 months (renewable)
2) Notice to other executors/administrators
Under which rules are personal representatives appointed for grants of representation (both with/without wills)
1) With will - NCPR 20
2) Without will - NCPR 22
What grant is required where the deceased had a valid will, willing and able executors but a gift failed without a substitution clause (e.g. partial/full intestacy)
Grant of probate - intestacy doesn’t matter
Which assets do not require a grant of representation?
1) Personal possessions
2) Cash
3) Small Payments Act assets under £5,000
Which assets are included in the Small Payments Act?
1) National savings
2) Friendly Soc./Industrial & Prov Soc. accounts
3) Salary/wage arrears
4) Police, fire, army, RAF pensions
5) Building society accounts
What is the ‘order of priority’ under NCPR 20
1) Executor
2) Residuary trustee
3) Residuary/intestacy beneficiary
4) PR of (3)
5) Creditor/other non-beneficially entitled party
6) PR of (5)