ADMINISTRATORS DUTY – NO WILL

Executors & Administrators Duty ~ The main difference between the two grants is that the Grant of Probate applies to a situation where there is a will that appoints executors whereas a Grant of Letters of Administration applies to the situations where there is no will or where a will is silent as to the appointment of an executor. An administrators duty and an executors duty are both very similar once the grant has been issued.

A Grant of Letters of Administration and a Grant of Probate are both issued by the Probate Registry, part of the High Court of Justice upon application by the proposed executor or administrator. In regards to an executors duty the appointed person must follow the testators wishes outlined in the will and in the case of an administrators duty the appointed person must follow the law in regards to the intestacy rules and distribute assets accordingly.

Through the grant, the administrator or executor possesses the power to collect in and distribute the deceased’s assets. Most private individuals are not familiar with probate law and have little knowledge of an executors duty or an administrators duty and in most cases, they will appoint a solicitor to perform those duties on their behalf.

Application Process ~ Matters of probate law can quickly become rather complex. Applying to the Registry can be a lengthy and involved process. The application requires a thorough assessment of the deceased’s property, which includes accounting for the deceased’s debts and liabilities. It also entails a valuation of all the deceased assets, which covers bank accounts and real property. An executors duty and an administrators duty carries with it substantial legal responsibly.

Once this initial assessment has been completed, you must then submit the application to the Registry, along with an accounting of the assets and liabilities which is then considered by the Capital Taxes Office. The next step is to appear before the Registry and swear an affidavit detailing the deceased, the nature of the death and the net value of the estate. The grant is issued once the Registry considers and approves the application. Some time thereafter, the Capital Taxes Office will also consider the executor’s account. At that point, you may be asked for additional information about the deceased’s assets. Taxes are payable if the net value of the deceased’s estate exceeds current limits.

Free Legal Advice ~ Our panel of solicitors can provide you with free legal advice on the duties of an executor or administrator of a will as well as on the various aspects of probate law. Our lawyers are experienced with both contested cases and non-contested cases. They can handle instances where the validity of the will is in question or a dependent of the deceased is bringing an action for support. To receive free legal advice on the matters outlined above, call our helpline or fill in the contact form on our website. You will be contacted by a solicitor who will discuss your situation with you free of charge. You are under no further obligations.