952-451-4987It is possible to revoke a grant of probate or administration if there is a valid reason, and a new grant can be issued instead. The grant will usually be made to the attorney of the person entitled to the grant. Since grants have not been made in respect of the estates of my father and mother, I must apply for them. A grant de bonis non may be made to any person who is equally entitled as the previous grantee. If he is not entitled under r.21 of Non-Contentious Probate Rules (Cap. 10A), he may apply for the Court to invoke its power under s.36 of Probate and Administration Ordinance (Cap. 10) to pass over a person entitled as an administrator to him.
Ademption happens when a specific gift under a will no longer exists at the time of the deceased’s demise. There are many circumstances under which the representative may postpone full distribution such as ongoing claim by a third party claimant against the estate. If the matrimonial property is worth more than his/her share under intestacy, he or she may pay the shortfall to the estate in return for the whole of the matrimonial property.
As a fiduciary, a personal presentative is bound to do his best for the benefit of the estate. He or she may be liable personally for the resulting waste if he/she failed such duty by wilful misconduct or negligence etc. HK$1,000,000 to a beneficiary, the beneficiary is entitled to interest from the end of the 12 months after the deceased’s demise (i.e. the so-called executor’s year).
When and how can the executor/administrator remove the items inside the deceased’s safe deposit box at a bank?
- In practice, it would be of less significance as the beneficiaries ranking in priority under intestacy, being the surviving spouse and children of the deceased, would generally be the persons expecting financial provisions from the deceased’s estate.
- In default of any such person it shall be granted to the Official Administrator.
- If the deceased died testate (i.e. he/she had made a Will appointing an executor), the executor is the only person who is entitled to apply for a Grant of Probate of the Will.
- 54 of Non-Contentious Probate Rules (Cap. 10A), an application for an order for a grant of special administration under section 37 of the Ordinance where a personal representative is residing outside Hong Kong shall be made to the court on motion.
- The testator must specifically identify or describe the gift in his will.
- However, since C has died before the grandmother did with two children (D & E) of his/her own, D and E will take equally C’s share of the residuary estate when they reach 18 if not already have or married before 18.
- How to express personal wishes regarding funeral arrangements in the will.
When a person dies, there may be estate (the money in bank accounts, company shares, real estate and other assets, etc.) left under the deceased’s name. A failure to observe the proper order can render the personal representatives personally liable. Therefore, his/her authority and duty as an executor starts from the very moment the testator (the “Will-maker”) dies. This power is useful when the next-of-kin of the deceased, who would otherwise be entitled to be appointed as administrator, is under 21 years old or has insufficient mental or physical capacity to administer the estate. If the deceased died intestate (i.e. no Will is found or if the Will has been revoked), the right of a person to apply for a Grant of Letters of Administration would be governed by the law of intestacy. How to express personal wishes regarding funeral arrangements in the will.
Can the executor/administrator initiate a litigation to recover assets of the estate?
For more information regarding the distribution of estate, please go to the “case illustration”. In other words, they shall be treated as the children of the adopter but not the children of any other persons. Illegitimate children could succeed to their mother’s estate on her intestacy, but only when there were no surviving legitimate children. For details of legal marriage, please go to the topic of “Matrimonial Matters”.
When the grantee himself has died without fully administering the estate of the deceased, unless there is a chain of executorship, a further or a new grant is required to appoint a personal representative in respect of the unadministered estate. If the personal representative is ordered by court to pay the opposing party legal costs, the opposing party may enforce the costs against the personal representative personally. In appropriate cases, the beneficiary may also apply to Court for the removal of the personal representative and for a replacement administrator to be appointed instead. The beneficiary may commence an administration action to compel the personal representative to do his/her work properly. In general, each and every personal representative can deal with the assets of the estate alone and the transaction so conducted would be binding on the estate.
Instead, he may apply for an order admitting proof of other evidence of its contents can be made to the Registrar under r.53 of Non-Contentious Probate Rules (Cap. 10A). If the testator has publicized the existence of his Will during his lifetime, the applicant may not be able to swear to the intestacy of the deceased. We must prove that the potential administrators are clearly unsuitable e.g. they refuse to apply for the Letters of Administration or that it is more convenient to do so. 3 of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Ordinance (Cap. 481) and might have beneficial interest in the estate. However, my father and I may have beneficial interest in the estate by virtue of s. Therefore, the deceased’s siblings have immediate beneficial interest in the estate, but my father and I do not have immediate beneficial interest in the estate.
In such a case, the Judge may make an order for a grant contrary to the terms in the will. The executor will then be required to accept or renounce his executorship. S.25 of the Probate and forzabet Administration Ordinance (Cap. 10) governs the number of grantees to be allowed. (ii) any residuary legatee or devisee holding in trust for any other person;
Can I write my own will without the help of lawyers?
In default of any such person it shall be granted to the Official Administrator. The citation and verifying affidavit must be personally served (r.45(4)). In the given scenario, he can clear off all person with prior entitlement to a grant by a Citation. For a person who died on or after 11 th February 2006 , the relevant application fee is $265 and the fee for engrossment of a Grant is $72. Administration shall not be granted to more than four persons in respect of the same property.
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54 of Non-Contentious Probate Rules (Cap. 10A), an application for an order for a grant of special administration under section 37 of the Ordinance where a personal representative is residing outside Hong Kong shall be made to the court on motion. A personal representative has a duty to administer the assets of the estate according to the law with due diligence. E.g. if the beneficiaries consider the personal representative having unduly initiated or defended a legal action, they may ask the court not to allow the representative to be reimbursed from the estate for the legal costs. Please also note that a death certificate is generally needed to support an application for a grant of personal representation of the estate of the deceased. Where a personal representative is residing abroad, an application can be made for a grant of special administration if no previous grant has been made. The personal representative of the deceased grantee should first apply for a ‘leading grant’ in the estate of the deceased grantee before applying for the grant de bonis non.
- It applies only to a deceased who is domiciled in Hong Kong or has been ordinarily resident in Hong Kong at any time in the 3 years immediately preceding his death.
- Under r.21(1)(ii) of Non-Contentious Probate Rules (Cap. 10A), I have a beneficial interest in the estates of my father and mother and am entitled to the respective grants to administration.
- Unless the executor is a professional executor, serving as an executor is an unpaid position.
- If the executor does not wish to take up the appointment, or if no executor appointed by the deceased survives, then the person entitled to the residuary legacy in the Will has priority to apply for a Grant of Letters of Administration (with the relevant Will annexed).
- All debts have to be ascertained and paid, or provisions for payment must be made, before the estate is distributed to the beneficiaries.
- If, however, the deceased leaves behind assets in the Mainland, the intended personal representative may need to seek the Mainland legal advice as to those assets.
What should the executor/administrator do if he has lost the Grant?
A personal representative has the duty to account to the beneficiaries for the estate. Generally speaking, a personal representative has the powers to sell the assets of the estate for the purpose of paying debts or expenses of the estate or for the purpose of distribution. Likewise, a personal representative has the powers to defend the estate in a legal action and to reach settlement with the claimant. In particular, a person representative has the power to commence legal proceedings to collect assets for the estate, including but not limited to obtain a freezing order against the party holding the assets so that that party cannot dispose of those assets until court order.
What property constitutes assets?
For deaths before 15 th July 2005 , estate duty remains payable. Before the abolition of estate duty on 11 th February 2006 , “Estate Duty Clearance” (evidencing the required duty has been paid) needs to be obtained before an application can be made for a Grant of Representation. In practice, it would be of less significance as the beneficiaries ranking in priority under intestacy, being the surviving spouse and children of the deceased, would generally be the persons expecting financial provisions from the deceased’s estate. You should consider appointing a person to act as guardian (to have legal custody) of any children who are minors (below the age of 18) at the time of your death. Discretionary powers will therefore be given to the executor to distribute as much of the income and/or capital for the benefit of the child as the executor sees fit before the child can formally receive all the assets.
If the will only deals with the disposition of overseas property, the Court of Hong Kong will refuse grant of probate. Please refer to the section about the “Capacity of an executor” for appointing a trusted person to be the executor. A valid will will be duly executed upon the testator’s death. An application shall be made within 6 months since the first grant of representation, otherwise, leave of the Court must be obtained.
Whilst the law in Hong Kong confers absolute testamentary freedom on individuals, it also recognizes the need for an individual to make financial provisions from his estate for his spouse and those who had been dependent on him financially during his lifetime. Under such circumstances, the surviving spouse could make a claim for a share of the estate, and the illegitimate child could claim for maintenance to be provided for him out of the estate pursuant to the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Ordinance. Any aggrieved party may bring legal action against the executor to contest the validity of the deceased’s Will.
S.25 of Probate and Administration Ordinance (Cap. 10) governs the number of grantees to be allowed. A’s only son is ineligible to apply for A’s Letters of Administration until he has proven that A’s wife has waived her right to apply for A’s Letters of Administration. A’s wife is alive but refused to apply for Letters of Administration.