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Administration Act 1903
Sch Fifth ScheduleRules as to payment of debts and liabilities of insolvent estates
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Fifth Schedule — Rules as to payment of debts and liabilities of insolvent estates
[s. 10A]
[Heading amended: No. 19 of 2010 s. 6(3).]
1. Expenses having priority
Funeral, testamentary and administration expenses have priority.
[Clause 1 amended: No. 19 of 2010 s. 51.]
2. Demand for unliquidated damages
A demand, in respect of which proceedings are maintainable against an estate, shall be provable in the administration of the estate, notwithstanding that it is a demand in the nature of unliquidated damages arising otherwise than by a contract, promise or breach of trust.
[Clause 2 amended: No. 19 of 2010 s. 51.]
3. Rules of bankruptcy apply
Subject to these rules, the same rules shall prevail and be observed as to —
(a) the respective rights of secured and unsecured creditors; and
(b) debts and liabilities provable; and
(c) the valuation of annuities and future and contingent liabilities; and
(d) the priorities of debts and liabilities,
as are, at the time of the death of the deceased person, in force under the Commonwealth law of bankruptcy with respect to the assets of persons adjudged bankrupt.
[Clause 3 amended: No. 19 of 2010 s. 51.]
[Fifth Schedule inserted: No. 72 of 1984 s. 8; amended: No. 19 of 2010 s. 51.]
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Notes
This is a compilation of the *Administration Act 1903* and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation, and for information about any reprints, see the compilation table. For provisions that have not yet come into operation see the uncommenced provisions table.
Compilation table
| **Short title** | | **Number and year** | | **Assent** | | **Commencement** | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| *Administration Act 1903* | | 13 of 1903 (3 Edw. VII No. 13) | | 31 Dec 1903 | | 1 Jan 1904 (see s. 1) | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1909* | | 29 of 1909 (9 Edw. VII No. 25) | | 20 Nov 1909 | | 20 Nov 1909 | |
| *Curator of Intestate Estates Act 1918* s. 2 | | 9 of 1918 (8 Geo. V No. 23) | | 15 Apr 1918 | | 1 Jul 1918 (see s. 1 and *Gazette* 7 Jun 1918 p. 813) | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1921* | | 13 of 1921 (12 Geo. V No. 13) | | 15 Nov 1921 | | 15 Nov 1921 | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1922* | | 29 of 1922 (13 Geo. V No. 11) | | 7 Dec 1922 | | 7 Dec 1922 | |
| *Administration Act (Estate and Succession Duties) Amendment Act 1934* s. 2 and Pt. III 3 | | 28 of 1934 (25 Geo. V No. 27) | | 28 Dec 1934 | | 1 Jan 1935 (see s. 1 and *Gazette* 28 Dec 1934 p. 1983) | |
| **Reprint of the *Administration Act 1903*** (includes amendments listed above) | | | | | | | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1939* | | 24 of 1939 (3 Geo. VI No. 24) | | 22 Nov 1939 | | 22 Nov 1939 | |
| *Public Trustee Act 1941* s. 3 | | 26 of 1941 (5 Geo. VI No. 26) | | 8 Dec 1941 | | 1 Jul 1942 (see s. 1(2) and *Gazette* 26 Jun 1942 p. 689) | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act (No. 2) 1941* | | 52 of 1941 (5 & 6 Geo. VI No. 52) | | 15 Jan 1942 | | 15 Jan 1942 | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1941* | | 55 of 1941 (5 & 6 Geo. VI No. 55) | | 15 Jan 1942 | | 1 Jul 1942 (see s. 8) | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1942* | | 21 of 1942 (6 Geo. VI No. 21) | | 9 Dec 1942 | | 9 Dec 1942 | |
| **Reprint of the *Administration Act 1903* approved in Volume 2 of Reprinted Acts** (includes amendments listed above) | | | | | | | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1945* | | 39 of 1945 (9 & 10 Geo. VI No. 39) | | 30 Jan 1946 | | 30 Jan 1946 | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1949* | | 8 of 1949 (13 Geo. VI No. 94) | | 14 Sep 1949 | | 14 Sep 1949 | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1950* | | 55 of 1950 (14 & 15 Geo. VI No. 55) | | 18 Dec 1950 | | 18 Dec 1950 | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1953* | | 62 of 1953 (2 Eliz. II No. 62) | | 9 Jan 1954 | | 9 Jan 1954 | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act (No. 2) 1953* | | 81 of 1953 (2 Eliz. II No. 81) | | 18 Jan 1954 | | 18 Jan 1954 | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1954* | | 30 of 1954 (3 Eliz. II No. 30) | | 8 Nov 1954 | | 8 Nov 1954 | |
| **Reprint of the *Administration Act 1903* approved 21 Jun 1955 in Volume 9 of Reprinted Acts** (includes amendments listed above) | | | | | | | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1955* | | 62 of 1955 (4 Eliz. II No. 62) | | 19 Dec 1955 | | 19 Dec 1955 | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1956* | | 81 of 1956 (5 Eliz. II No. 81) | | 17 Jan 1957 | | 1 Feb 1957 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 1 Feb 1957 p. 161) | |
| **Reprint of the *Administration Act 1903* approved 23 Apr 1958 in Volume 12 of Reprinted Acts** (includes amendments listed above) | | | | | | | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1959* | | 56 of 1959 (8 Eliz. II No. 56) | | 25 Nov 1959 | | 25 Nov 1959 | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1960* | | 21 of 1960 (9 Eliz. II No. 21) | | 11 Oct 1960 | | 25 Nov 1960 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 25 Nov 1960 p. 3779) | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1961* | | 57 of 1961 (10 Eliz. II No. 57) | | 28 Nov 1961 | | 28 Nov 1961 | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1962* | | 80 of 1962 (11 Eliz. II No. 80) | | 6 Dec 1962 | | 1 Jan 1963 (see s. 2) | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1963* | | 66 of 1963 (12 Eliz. II No. 66) | | 18 Dec 1963 | | 18 Dec 1963 | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1964* | | 57 of 1964 (13 Eliz. II No. 57) | | 30 Nov 1964 | | 30 Nov 1964 | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1965* | | 78 of 1965 | | 7 Dec 1965 | | 7 Dec 1965 | |
| *Decimal Currency Act 1965* | | 113 of 1965 | | 21 Dec 1965 | | Act other than s. 4-9: 21 Dec 1965 (see s. 2(1)); s. 4-9: 14 Feb 1966 (see s. 2(2)) | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1966* | | 68 of 1966 | | 12 Dec 1966 | | 12 Dec 1966 | |
| Rules (3rd Schedule) Revoked: *Gazette* 11 Sep 1967 p. 2249-64 | | | | | | 11 Sep 1967 | |
| **Reprint of the *Administration Act 1903* approved 11 Sep 1967 in Volume 21 of Reprinted Acts** (includes amendments listed above except Rules (3rd Schedule)) | | | | | | | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1969* | | 2 of 1969 | | 21 Apr 1969 | | 21 Apr 1969 | |
| *Acts Amendment (Commissioner of State Taxation) Act 1970* Pt. XII | | 21 of 1970 | | 8 May 1970 | | 1 Jul 1970 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 26 Jun 1970 p. 1831) | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1970* 5 | | 107 of 1970 | | 8 Dec 1970 | | Act other than s. 3, 4 and 11: 8 Dec 1970 (see s. 2(1)); s. 3, 4 and 11: 1 Jan 1971 (see s. 2(1)) | |
| **Reprint of the *Administration Act 1903* approved 23 Jun 1971** (includes amendments listed above) | | | | | | | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1971* | | 18 of 1971 | | 1 Dec 1971 | | 21 Jan 1972 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 21 Jan 1972 p. 71) | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act (No. 2) 1971* | | 40 of 1971 | | 10 Dec 1971 | | 10 Dec 1971 | |
| *Age of Majority Act 1972* s. 6(2) | | 46 of 1972 | | 18 Sep 1972 | | 1 Nov 1972 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 13 Oct 1972 p. 4069) | |
| *Inheritance (Family and Dependants Provision) Act 1972* s. 3(2) | | 57 of 1972 | | 31 Oct 1972 | | 1 Jan 1973 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 17 Nov 1972 p. 4379) | |
| *Metric Conversion Act 1972* | | 94 of 1972 (as amended by No. 19 of 1973 s. 4) | | 4 Dec 1972 | | Relevant amendments (see Second Sch. 6) took effect on 1 Jan 1974 (see s. 4(2) and *Gazette* 2 Nov 1973 p. 4108) | |
| *Death Duty Assessment Act 1973* s. 3 7 | | 80 of 1973 | | 21 Dec 1973 | | 1 Jan 1974 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 28 Dec 1973 p. 4725) | |
| **Reprint of the *Administration Act 1903* approved 17 Aug 1975** (includes amendments listed above) | | | | | | | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1976* | | 138 of 1976 | | 13 Dec 1976 | | Act other than s. 3‑16: 1 Mar 1977 (see s. 2(3)); s. 3, 4 and 16: 1 Mar 1977 (see s. 2(1) and *Gazette* 28 Jan 1977 p. 185‑6); s. 5-15: 1 Dec 1977 (see s. 2(2) and *Gazette* 11 Nov 1977 p. 4193) | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1977* | | 37 of 1977 | | 7 Nov 1977 | | 1 Dec 1977 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 25 Nov 1977 p. 4345) | |
| *Acts Amendment (Master, Supreme Court) Act 1979* Pt. VIII | | 67 of 1979 | | 21 Nov 1979 | | 11 Feb 1980 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 8 Feb 1980 p. 383) | |
| *Administration Act Amendment Act 1979* | | 103 of 1979 | | 17 Dec 1979 | | 24 Apr 1980 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 24 Apr 1980 p. 1179) | |
| *Administration Amendment Act 1980* | | 14 of 1980 | | 15 Oct 1980 | | 12 Nov 1980 (see s. 2) | |
| **Reprint of the *Administration Act 1903* approved 23 Dec 1980** (includes amendments listed above) | | | | | | | |
| *Administration Amendment Act 1982* | | 48 of 1982 | | 6 Sep 1982 | | 1 Mar 1983 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 25 Feb 1983 p. 637) | |
| *Administration Amendment Act 1984* | | 57 of 1984 | | 24 Oct 1984 | | 21 Nov 1984 | |
| *Acts Amendment (Insolvent Estates) Act 1984* Pt. II | | 72 of 1984 | | 26 Nov 1984 | | 24 Dec 1984 | |
| *Artificial Conception Act 1985* s. 8 | | 14 of 1985 | | 12 Apr 1985 | | 1 Jul 1985 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 28 Jun 1985 p. 2291) | |
| **Reprint of the *Administration Act 1903* as at 17 Jun 1986** (includes amendments listed above) | | | | | | | |
| *Administration Amendment Act 1986* | | 21 of 1986 | | 25 Jul 1986 | | s. 1 and 2: 25 Jul 1986; Act other than s. 1 and 2: 7 Nov 1986 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 7 Nov 1986 p. 4140) | |
| *Transfer of Land Amendment Act 1996* s. 153(1) | | 81 of 1996 | | 14 Nov 1996 | | 14 Nov 1996 (see s. 2(1)) | |
| *Trustees Amendment Act 1997* s. 18 | | 1 of 1997 | | 6 May 1997 | | 16 Jun 1997 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 10 Jun 1997 p. 2661) | |
| *Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 1997* s. 16 | | 57 of 1997 | | 15 Dec 1997 | | 15 Dec 1997 (see s. 2(1)) | |
| *Acts Amendment and Repeal (Financial Sector Reform) Act 1999* s. 59 | | 26 of 1999 | | 29 Jun 1999 | | 1 Jul 1999 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 30 Jun 1999 p. 2905) | |
| **Reprint of the *Administration Act 1903* as at 1 Jul 1999** (includes amendments listed above) | | | | | | | |
| *Acts Amendment (Lesbian and Gay Law Reform) Act 2002* Pt. 2 | | 3 of 2002 | | 17 Apr 2002 | | 21 Sep 2002 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 20 Sep 2002 p. 4693) | |
| *Family Court Amendment Act 2002* s. 52 | | 25 of 2002 | | 25 Sep 2002 | | 1 Dec 2002 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 29 Nov 2002 p. 5651) | |
| *Courts Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2004* s. 141 | | 59 of 2004 | | 23 Nov 2004 | | 1 May 2005 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 31 Dec 2004 p. 7128) | |
| *Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations (Consequential Provisions) Act 2005* s. 63 | | 24 of 2005 | | 2 Dec 2005 | | 1 Jan 2006 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 23 Dec 2005 p. 6244) | |
| **Reprint 11: The *Administration Act 1903* as at 14 Jul 2006** (includes amendments listed above) | | | | | | | |
| *Land Information Authority Act 2006* s. 120 | | 60 of 2006 | | 16 Nov 2006 | | 1 Jan 2007 (see s. 2(1) and *Gazette* 8 Dec 2006 p. 5369) | |
| *Standardisation of Formatting Act 2010* s. 6 and 51 | | 19 of 2010 | | 28 Jun 2010 | | 11 Sep 2010 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 10 Sep 2010 p. 4341) | |
| *Inheritance (Family and Dependants Provision) Amendment Act 2011* s. 14 | | 48 of 2011 | | 25 Oct 2011 | | 16 Jan 2013 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 15 Jan 2013 p. 79) | |
| **Reprint 12: The *Administration Act 1903* as at 15 Apr 2016** (includes amendments listed above) | | | | | | | |
| *Statutes (Minor Amendments) Act 2017* s. 3 | | 6 of 2017 | | 12 Sep 2017 | | 13 Sep 2017 (see s. 2(b)) | |
| *COVID-19 Response and Economic Recovery Omnibus Act 2020* s. 53 | | 34 of 2020 | | 11 Sep 2020 | | 12 Sep 2020 (see s. 2(b)) | |
| *Administration Amendment Act 2022* | | 5 of 2022 | | 29 Mar 2022 | | s. 1 and 2: 29 Mar 2022 (see s. 2(a)); Act other than s. 1 and 2: 30 Mar 2022 (see s. 2(b)) | |
Uncommenced provisions table
To view the text of the uncommenced provisions see *Acts as passed* on the WA legislation website.
| **Short title** | **Number and year** | **Assent** | **Commencement** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| *Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Act 2025* Pt. 17 Div. 1 | 19 of 2025 | 18 Dec 2025 | To be proclaimed (see s. 2(c)) |
Other notes
1 Repealed by section 2 of this Act.
2 Part IV (Curator of Intestate Estates) as originally enacted, was repealed by the *Curator of Intestate Estates Act 1918* (No. 9 of 1918). The Curator of Intestate Estates continued under the *Curator of Intestate Estates Act 1918* and, on 1 July 1942, became the Public Trustee (see the *Public Trustee Act 1941* s. 3).
3 This Part was originally enacted as Part II of the *Administration Act (Estate and Succession Duties) Amendment Act 1934* (No. 28 of 1934). It was inserted as Part VI in the 1934 reprint of this Act (see the *Administration Act (Estate and Succession Duties) Amendment Act 1934* s. 77) and renumbered as Part V in the 1943 reprint.
The *Administration Act (Estate and Succession Duties) Amendment Act 1934* s. 3 provides that —
3. This Act shall apply in the case of any person dying after its commencement, but the provisions of Part VI of the principal Act as hereby repealed shall apply to any person dying before the commencement of this Act.
4 This amount is now declared to be $50 000; see proclamation in *Gazette* 6 February 2009 p. 243.
5 The *Administration Act Amendment Act 1970* s. 2(2) is a transitional provision that is of no further effect.
6 The *Metric Conversion Act 1972* Second Schedule was inserted by the *Metric Conversion Act Amendment Act 1973* s. 4.
7 The *Death Duty Assessment Act 1973* s. 3(2), (3), (4) and (5) are transitional provisions that are of no further effect.
8 Under s. 14A of the Act, the Minister makes the following orders declaring, for each specified item, the sum that is to apply for that item.
**Table of published orders**
| **Name** | **Published in *Gazette*** |
| --- | --- |
| [*Administration (Intestacy Legacy Amounts) Order 2023*](https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/gazettestore.nsf/FileURL/gg2023_101.pdf/$FILE/Gg2023_101.pdf?OpenElement#page=3) | 1 Aug 2023 p. 2691-2 |
| [*Administration (Intestacy Legacy Amounts) Order 2025*](https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/gazettestore.nsf/FileURL/gg2025_080.pdf/$FILE/Gg2025_080.pdf?OpenElement#page=4) | 4 Jul 2025 p. 1114 |
Defined terms
*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*
**Defined term Provision(s)**
ADI 139(2)
administration 3
administrator 3
Court 3
deceased 17A(1)
declared sum 14(1A)
election period Fourth Sch. cl. 6(1)
exemplification of probate 3
household chattels 14(2)
insolvent 3
interest Fourth Sch. cl. 1(1)
intestate 14(1), 15(6)
intestate property 14(1), 15(6)
order 14(1A)
original sum 14A(1)
personal estate 3
prescribed 3
Principal Registrar 3
probate 3
Public Trustee 3
real estate 3
registrar 3
relevant property 14(2b) and (3a)
relevant sums 14B(1)
specified item 14(1A), 14A(1)
Table 14(1A)
will 3
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Attribute work as: © State of Western Australia 2025.
By Authority: ROGER JACOBS, Acting Government Printer