12
December 2023. It also includes any commencement, amendment, repeal or expiry affecting
12 December 2023. It also includes any commencement, amendment, repeal or expiry affecting
this republished law to 12 December 2023.
The legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3
and 4.
Kinds of republications
The Parliamentary Counsel’s Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT
legislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au):
• authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies
• unauthorised republications.
The status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.
Editorial changes
The Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial
amendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication.
Editorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by
an Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117). The
changes are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into
line, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.
This republication includes amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).
Uncommenced provisions and amendments
If a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol U appears immediately
before the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law
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Modifications
If a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the
symbol M appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying
provision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation
Act 2001, section 95.
Penalties
At the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $160 for an
individual and $810 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001, s 133).
contents 1
Page
1 Name of Act 2
2 Dictionary 2
3 Notes 2
8C Supreme Court to make finding about domicile of deceased person 3
9 Probate or administration may be granted 3
9A Evidence of death 4
9B Grant on presumption of death 4
9C Evidentiary effect of probate and letters of administration 6
10B Grant to single executor reserving leave to others to apply 7
10C Grant of probate to public trustee and guardian etc 7
Page
contents 2 Administration and Probate Act 1929
11 Practice about granting administration of real and personal estate 7
12 Eligible administrators 7
13 Rights and duties of administrator 8
20 Renunciation or non-appearance by executor 9
20A Renunciation etc by person appointed both executor and trustee of will 10
21 Administration to guardian of child sole executor 10
22 Administration under power of attorney 11
23 Administration pendente lite and receiver 11
24 Power to appoint administrator 11
25 Failure of executor to prove will 12
26 Issue of special letters of administration 12
27 Special administrator to make certain affidavits 13
28 On return of original executor or administrator special administration to
be revoked 13
29 Accounting by special administrator 13
30 Liability of executor or administrator neglecting to apply for revocation
of special administration 14
31 Revocation of grants not to prejudice actions or suits 14
32 Discharge or removal of executors and administrators 14
32A Revocation of grant if person living at date of grant 16
32B Effect of revocation of grant 17
38A Estate to vest in public trustee and guardian until grant 18
39 Real and personal estate to vest in executor or administrator 19
40 Real estate held in trust 19
41 Property of deceased to be assets 20
41A Property of deceased liable for debts 20
41B Appointments by will under general power 21
41C Administration of assets 21
41D Application of income of settled residuary estate 21
42 Real estate to be held on trusts of will 23
43 Rights of executor in relation to real estate 23
43A Executor of executor 24
43B When ceases to represent deceased 25
Page
contents 3
43C Rights and liabilities of executor of executor 25
44 Interpretation for pt 3A 26
44A Whole blood or half-blood relationships 27
45 Executor or administrator to hold property of intestate on trust for
persons entitled 27
45A Distribution between spouse, civil union partner or civil partner and
eligible partner 28
46 Entitlement of children 28
48 Estate by courtesy or right of dower not to arise 28
49 Distribution of intestate estate 29
49A Interest of partner on intestacy in personal chattels 30
49AA Immovable property if intestate domiciled elsewhere 30
49B How distribution to issue is made 31
49BA Gifts made before death of intestate 32
49C How distribution to next of kin is made 34
49CA How distribution to the Territory is made 35
49D Partial intestacies 36
49DA Effect of disclaimer or forfeiture 37
49E Presumptions of parentage 37
49F Definitions for div 3A.3 38
49G Claim by partner to dwelling house 38
49H Valuation 39
49J Right not exercisable for certain tenancies 40
49K Right not exercisable in certain other cases 40
49L Personal representative not to sell or dispose of interest without
consent 41
49M Rule that trustee not to purchase trust property 41
49N If surviving partner is under legal disability 42
Page
contents 4 Administration and Probate Act 1929
Part 3B Simultaneous deaths
49P Simultaneous deaths—devolution of property generally 43
49Q Simultaneous deaths—devolution of jointly owned property 43
50 Powers of executors and administrators to sell, mortgage or lease real
estate 44
51 Supreme Court may make special order 45
51A Supreme Court may authorise postponement of realisation and
carrying on of business 46
52 Supreme Court may order partition in summary way 46
53 Personal representative not required to continue to act against own
consent 47
54 In suits executor or administrator to represent real estate 48
55 All debts to stand in equal degree 48
55A Interest on legacies 48
56 Executor may sign acknowledgment instead of conveyance 49
57 Summary application for legacy etc 49
58 Examination and passing of accounts etc 50
61 Supreme Court may make order about disposal of money in hands of
executor etc 51
62 Payments under revoked probates or administrations valid 51
63 Persons etc making payments on probate granted for estate of
deceased person to be indemnified 51
64 Notice before distribution of assets 52
65 Claims barred against executor or administrator in certain cases 53
66 Distribution of estate by executors and administrators 53
67 Right to follow assets 54
68 Executors may compound etc 54
69 Every executor etc taken to be resident in ACT 55
70 Executors etc may be allowed commission 55
Part 3D Liability of certain persons in relation to
deceased estates
74A Fraudulently obtaining or keeping property 56
74B Persons liable for waste of deceased estate 57
Page
contents 5
79A Orders to collect and administer estates for pt 5 58
79B Inclusion of orders to collect and Scottish confirmation 58
80 Reseal of grant made in reciprocating jurisdiction 58
80B Supreme Court may require security 59
80C Effect of sealing 59
87B Estates valued at $30 000 or less 61
87C Estates valued at $150 000 or less 62
88 Orders to public trustee and guardian to collect and administer 64
89 Effect of order 66
90 Grant of probate or administration despite appointment of public
trustee and guardian 66
91 Cessation of rights and liabilities of public trustee and guardian 67
92 Order to public trustee and guardian to collect and administer in
special circumstances 68
93 Notice of order to be published 69
95 Supreme Court orders against public trustee and guardian 69
96 Orders on complaints under s 95 70
97 Public trustee and guardian to act as Supreme Court directs 70
97A Public trustee and guardian may obtain directions of Supreme Court 70
98 Proceedings for estates administered by the public trustee and
guardian 71
101 Accounts to be kept etc 71
102 Receipt of public trustee and guardian sufficient discharge 71
126 People entitled to inspect will of deceased person 72
127 Person fraudulently disposing of will liable for damages 73
128 Application of amendments made by Administration and Probate
(Amendment) Act 1996 73
129 Regulation-making power 74
Page
contents 6 Administration and Probate Act 1929
Schedule 4 75
Part 4.1 Order of application of assets if estate solvent 75
Part 4.2 Rules about payment of debts and liabilities if estate
insolvent 76
Schedule 6 Distribution of intestate estate on intestacy 77
Part 6.1 Distribution of estate if intestate survived by partner 77
Part 6.2 Distribution of estate if intestate not survived by
partner 79
Dictionary 80
1 About the endnotes 83
2 Abbreviation key 83
3 Legislation history 84
4 Amendment history 94
5 Earlier republications 116
An Act relating to the administration of the estates of deceased persons
1
Name of Act
1 Name of Act
This Act is the Administration and Probate Act 1929.
2
Dictionary
2 Dictionary
The dictionary at the end of this Act is part of this Act.
Note 1 The dictionary at the end of this Act defines certain terms used in this
Act.
Note 2 A definition in the dictionary applies to the entire Act unless the
definition, or another provision of the Act, provides otherwise or the
contrary intention otherwise appears (see Legislation Act, s 155 and
s 156 (1)).
3
Notes
3 Notes
A note included in this Act is explanatory and is not part of this Act.
Note See the Legislation Act, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of notes.
8C
Supreme Court to make finding about domicile of
8C Supreme Court to make finding about domicile of
deceased person
On an application made under this Act—
(a) for the grant of probate of the will, or administration of the
estate, of a deceased person; or
(b) to have probate of the will, administration of the estate, or an
order to collect and administer the estate, of a deceased person
granted by a court of competent jurisdiction in a State or other
Territory sealed with the seal of the Supreme Court; or
(c) by the public trustee and guardian for an order to collect and
administer the estate of a deceased person;
the Supreme Court must not grant the relief sought unless it has made
a finding about the domicile of the deceased person at the time of
death.
9
Probate or administration may be granted
9 Probate or administration may be granted
(1) The Supreme Court has jurisdiction to grant probate of the will or
administration of the estate of any deceased person leaving property,
whether real or personal, within the ACT.
(2) The Supreme Court has jurisdiction to grant probate of the will, or
administration of the estate, of a deceased person who did not leave
property, whether real or personal, within the ACT, if the court is
satisfied that the grant of probate or administration is necessary.
9A
Evidence of death
9A Evidence of death
(1) Probate of the will, or administration of the estate, of a person may
be granted by the Supreme Court if it is satisfied, by direct evidence
or by evidence supporting a presumption of death, that the person is,
or may be presumed to be, dead.
(2) A grant of probate of the will, or administration of the estate, of a
person made on direct evidence of the death of the person or on
evidence supporting a presumption of the death of the person is valid
even if the person is, after the day the grant was made, found to have
been alive on that day.
9B
Grant on presumption of death
9B Grant on presumption of death
(1) If the Supreme Court makes a grant of probate of the will, or
administration of the estate, of a person on evidence supporting a
presumption of the death of the person—
(a) the grant must be expressed to be made on presumption of the
death of the person; and
(b) the estate of the person must not be distributed without the leave
of the court; and
(c) the court may, in the probate or administration or by an order
made at any time, give leave to distribute the estate; and
(d) the court may, in giving leave to distribute the estate of the
person, direct that the distribution must not be made unless each
person who is to take under the distribution gives an undertaking
or security that he or she will, if the probate or administration is
revoked—
(i) if the person has received property other than money under
the order—restore the property or, at his or her option, pay
an amount equal to the value of the property at the time he
or she received the property to the person whose death was
presumed or, if that person has subsequently died, to the
administrator of the estate of that person; or
(ii) if the person has received money under the order—pay an
amount equal to the amount of the money received under
the order to the person whose death was presumed or, if
that person has subsequently died, to the administrator of
the estate of that person; and
(e) the court may direct the executor or the administrator to give,
before the estate is distributed, the notices (including a notice
stating a date before which a caveat against the distribution of
the estate may be filed in the Supreme Court under the rules)
that the court considers appropriate.
(2) If an executor or administrator of an estate has given the notices
directed by the Supreme Court under subsection (1) (e), the executor
or administrator—
(a) may, subject to subsection (3), after the end of the period stated
in the notices, distribute the estate among the persons entitled to
it, having regard only to the claims of which the executor or
administrator has notice at the time of the distribution; and
(b) is not liable, in relation to any part of the estate so distributed, to
a person entitled to that part of whose claim he or she did not
have notice at the time of the distribution.
(3) If a caveat against the distribution of an estate has been filed in the
Supreme Court in accordance with a notice under subsection (1) (e)
and the caveat is in force under the rules—
(a) the executor or administrator must not distribute the estate
among the persons entitled to it except under an order of the
Supreme Court under subsection (4); and
(b) the executor or administrator, the person who filed the caveat or
a person interested in the distribution of the estate may make
application to the Supreme Court for an order under
subsection (4).
(4) Despite the filing of a caveat in the Supreme Court in accordance with
subsection (1) (e), the court may, on application under
subsection (3) (b), make an order authorising the executor or
administrator of an estate to distribute the estate among the people
entitled to it.
(5) An order under subsection (4) may authorise the distribution of the
estate subject to the conditions the Supreme Court considers
appropriate.
9C
Evidentiary effect of probate and letters of administration
9C Evidentiary effect of probate and letters of administration
(1) The probate of a will or letters of administration with a will annexed
are evidence of the execution of the will.
(2) The copy of a will annexed to a probate or to letters of administration
is evidence of the contents of the will.
(3) The probate of a will is evidence of the death of the testator and, if
the probate states the date of death of the testator, of the date of death.
(4) Letters of administration of the estate of a deceased person are
evidence of the death of the person and, if the letters of administration
state the date of death of the person, of the date of death.
Note The Evidence Act 2011, s 92 (1) deals with the admission or use of the
grant of probate or letters of administration to prove the death, or date of
death, of a person or the execution of a testamentary document.
10B
Grant to single executor reserving leave to others to
10B Grant to single executor reserving leave to others to
apply
The Supreme Court may, if it considers appropriate, grant probate to
1 or more of the executors named in a will reserving leave to the
executor who has not renounced, or the executors who have not
renounced, to come in and apply for a grant of probate at a future
time.
10C
Grant of probate to public trustee and guardian etc
10C Grant of probate to public trustee and guardian etc
If a deceased person has named as an executor of the person’s will
the public trustee and guardian, or the public trustee of a State, the
Supreme Court may grant probate of the will to that public trustee.
Note State includes the Northern Territory (see Legislation Act, dict, pt 1).
11
Practice about granting administration of real and
11 Practice about granting administration of real and
personal estate
Subject to this Act and the rules, the practice and procedure in relation
to the granting of administration of the personal estate of an intestate
are applicable so far as may be, to administration of real estate, and
administration of both real and personal estate may be granted in and
by the same letters.
12 Eligible administrators
(1) The Supreme Court may grant administration of an intestate estate to
any of the following persons, subject to this section:
(a) the partner of the intestate;
(b) 1 or more of the next of kin of the intestate;
(c) if the intestate is survived by 2 partners—either partner, or both
partners conjointly;
(d) a partner or partners of the intestate conjointly with 1 or more of
the next of kin of the intestate;
(e) any other person (whether or not a creditor of the intestate) the
court considers appropriate.
(2) The Supreme Court must only grant administration of an intestate
estate to a person who is at least 18 years old.
(3) The Supreme Court must not grant administration of an intestate
estate to a person mentioned in subsection (1) (e) if there is anyone
else to whom administration may be granted under this section who—
(a) in the court’s opinion, can be trusted with administration of the
estate; and
(b) applies to be granted administration of the estate.
(4) In this section:
partner, in relation to an intestate—see section 44.
13
Rights and duties of administrator
13 Rights and duties of administrator
A person to whom administration of the estate of a deceased person
is granted—
(a) has, subject to any limitations in the grant, the same rights and
liabilities as the person would have if the person were the
executor of the deceased person; and
(b) is accountable in the same way as the person would be
accountable if the person were the executor of the deceased
Note This section was relocated from the Imperial Acts (Substituted
Provisions) Act 1986, sch 2, pt 4 (for the effect of a relocation, see
Legislation Act 2001, s 96). The 1986 Act substituted provisions for
certain UK Acts that applied (or may have applied) in the ACT and
repealed those Acts. The provisions of sch 2, pt 4 were substituted for 31
Edw. 3, St. 1, c 11 (1357) and 1 Jas. 2 c 17, s 6 (1685). The 1986 Act,
s 4 (1) provided, in effect, that the rules of law about the interpretation of
consolidating Acts apply to the interpretation of the provisions of a law
set out in sch 2. These rules of law continue to apply to this section (see
Legislation Act 2001, s 96 (3)).
20
Renunciation or non-appearance by executor
20 Renunciation or non-appearance by executor
(a) the person appointed executor by a will renounces probate of the
will; or
(b) the person appointed executor by a will survives the testator but
dies without having taken out probate of the will; or
(c) an application is made in the Supreme Court under section 25
(Failure of executor to prove will) in relation to the person
appointed executor by a will and the person does not file in the
court a notice of intention to respond or defence within the time
required by the rules.
(2) The person’s rights as executor of the will cease, and the
representation of the testator and the administration of the testator’s
estate are taken, without further renunciation, to devolve as if the
person had not been appointed executor.
20A
Renunciation etc by person appointed both executor and
20A Renunciation etc by person appointed both executor and
trustee of will
(1) If section 20 (1) (a) or (c) applies to a person who is appointed by a
will both executor and trustee, the person is taken to have disclaimed
the trust contained in the will.
(2) If—
(a) section 20 (1) (a), (b) or (c) applies to a person who is appointed
by a will both executor and trustee, and administration with the
will annexed is granted to a trustee company; or
(b) a person appointed by a will both executor and trustee authorises
a trustee company to apply for administration with the will
annexed, and administration with the will annexed is granted to
the trustee company;
the trustee company is taken, because of the grant of administration
and without any further appointment, to be appointed trustee of the
will in the person’s place.
trustee company—see the Trustee Companies Act 1947, dictionary.
21
Administration to guardian of child sole executor
21 Administration to guardian of child sole executor
(1) If a child is sole executor, administration with the will annexed may
be granted to—
(a) the guardian of the child; or
(b) any other person the Supreme Court considers appropriate;
until the child is 18 years old, with full or limited powers to act in the
premises until probate has been granted to the executor or
administration has been granted to some other person.
(2) The person to whom that administration is granted has the same
powers as an administrator under an administration granted during
the minority of the child.
22
Administration under power of attorney
22 Administration under power of attorney
(1) If a person entitled to probate or administration of a deceased estate
is out of the jurisdiction, and has appointed a person within the
jurisdiction under a power of attorney to exercise that entitlement, the
Supreme Court may grant administration to the attorney on behalf of
the entitled person on the terms the court considers appropriate.
(2) The grant of administration under subsection (1) continues in force
despite the death of the donor of the power of attorney, subject to the
terms of the grant.
23
Administration pendente lite and receiver
23 Administration pendente lite and receiver
(1) The Supreme Court may—
(a) pending any suit touching the validity of the will of any deceased
person, or for obtaining recalling, or revoking any probate or any
grant of administration; or
(b) during a contested right of administration;
appoint an administrator of the personal estate and the same or any
other person to be receiver of the real estate of any deceased person,
with the full or limited powers that the court considers appropriate.
(2) The Supreme Court may make the orders for the remuneration of the
administrator or receiver out of the personal and real estate of the
deceased person it considers right.
24
Power to appoint administrator
24 Power to appoint administrator
The Supreme Court may, if a person dies—
(a) intestate; or
(b) leaving a will, but without having appointed an executor; or
(c) leaving a will and having appointed an executor, who—
(i) is not willing and competent to take probate; or
(ii) is resident out of the ACT;
if it considers it necessary or convenient, appoint some person to be
the administrator of the estate of the deceased person or of any part
of the estate, on giving the security (if any) that the court directs, and
may limit the administration as the court considers appropriate.
25
Failure of executor to prove will
25 Failure of executor to prove will
(1) This section applies if the person named as executor in a will—
(a) fails to prove the will or renounce probate within 6 months after
the later of the following:
(i) the date of the testator’s death;
(ii) the date the executor turns 18 years old; or
(b) is unknown or cannot be found.
(2) The Supreme Court may, on application under the rules, make an
order for administration of the estate, and any other orders, the court
considers appropriate.
26
Issue of special letters of administration
26 Issue of special letters of administration
If, at the end of 6 months from the death of any person, the executor
to whom probate has been granted or the administrator is then
residing out of the jurisdiction, the Supreme Court may, on the
application of any creditor, legatee, or next of kin, grant to the
creditor, legatee or next of kin so applying special letters of
administration of the estate of the deceased person, nevertheless to
cease on an order being made for the revocation of the grant of the
special letters of administration as mentioned in section 29.
27
Special administrator to make certain affidavits
27 Special administrator to make certain affidavits
The person applying for grant of special letters of administration
must, in addition to the oath usually taken by administrators, satisfy
the Supreme Court by affidavit that the executor or administrator of
the estate of the deceased person is resident out of the jurisdiction,
and that—
(a) the applicant is thereby delayed in recovering or obtaining
payment of money or the possession of goods and chattels, or
real estate, to which he or she is by law entitled; or
(b) the estate is liable to loss or waste.
28
On return of original executor or administrator special
28 On return of original executor or administrator special
administration to be revoked
(1) On the return within the jurisdiction of the executor to whom probate
has originally been granted, or the administrator, the executor or
administrator may apply to the Supreme Court to revoke the special
grant of administration.
(2) The Supreme Court, on the hearing of the application, may make an
order to revoke the special grant of administration on the terms and
conditions about security, costs, or otherwise that the court appear
reasonable, and the original probate or administration are and remain
as valid and effectual as if the special grant of administration had not
been made.
29
Accounting by special administrator
29 Accounting by special administrator
On any order being made by the Supreme Court for the revocation of
any grant of special administration the special administrator is bound
duly to account to the original executor or administrator, and to pay
over any money received by him or her as special administrator that
is undisposed of as the court may order.
30
Liability of executor or administrator neglecting to apply
30 Liability of executor or administrator neglecting to apply
for revocation of special administration
If the executor or administrator neglects to apply for an order for the
revocation of the special administration, he or she is, even though the
special administration remains unrevoked, liable to answer and make
good all claims and demands against the estate of the deceased person
to the extent of the assets that have come to his or her hands or that
might have come to his or her hands apart from his or her wilful
neglect, or default, including the neglect mentioned in this section.
31
Revocation of grants not to prejudice actions or suits
31 Revocation of grants not to prejudice actions or suits
If, while any legal proceeding is pending in any court by or against
any executor or administrator lawfully acting as such, the grant of
probate or administration is revoked, that court may order that the
proceeding be continued by or against the new personal
representative in like way, as if the proceeding had been originally
begun by or against the new representative, but subject to the
conditions and variations (if any) as that court directs.
32
Discharge or removal of executors and administrators
32 Discharge or removal of executors and administrators
(1) In this section:
administrator includes an administrator appointed under this section.
Note Administrator includes any person to whom administration is granted
(see dict).
executor means an executor who has been granted representation.
(2) This section applies if an executor or administrator—
(a) remains out of the ACT for more than 2 years; or
(b) wants to be discharged from the office of executor or
administrator; or
(c) after the grant of representation or appointment—
(i) refuses to act in the office; or
(ii) is unfit to act in the office; or
(iii) is incapable of acting in the office.
(3) The Supreme Court may order, on the terms and conditions it
considers appropriate—
(a) the discharge or removal of the executor or administrator (the
old executor or administrator); and
(b) the appointment of someone else as administrator (the new
administrator) in place of the old executor or administrator.
(4) For subsection (3), the Supreme Court may make—
(a) orders for vesting the estate in the new administrator; or
(b) orders about accounts; or
(c) any order about costs.
(5) The old executor or administrator is not liable for an act done or
omission made after the date of the order.
(6) On appointment of a new administrator—
(a) the property and rights of the estate vested in the old executor or
administrator vest in the new administrator; and
(b) the liabilities properly incurred in the administration of the
estate by the old executor or administrator vest in the new
administrator; and
(c) the new administrator has the same functions as if probate of the
estate had originally been granted to the new administrator.
(7) If the Supreme Court considers it necessary, notice of an application
for the discharge or removal of the old executor or administrator may
be served on anyone the Supreme Court directs.
32A
Revocation of grant if person living at date of grant
32A Revocation of grant if person living at date of grant
(1) If the Supreme Court is satisfied that a person was living at the time
when probate of his or her will, or administration of his or her estate,
was granted by the court, the court—
(a) must revoke the grant on the terms (if any) the court considers
appropriate in relation to proceedings that have been begun by
or against the executor or administrator or in relation to costs or
any other matter; and
(b) may at any time, whether before or after the revocation of the
grant, make the orders the court considers appropriate for the
protection of the estate, including an order for an injunction
against the executor or administrator or another person and an
order for the appointment of a receiver.
(2) An application to the Supreme Court for the revocation, under
subsection (1), of a grant of probate of the will, or administration of
the estate, of a person may be made—
(a) by the person; or
(b) if the person has died since the grant—by any person entitled to
apply for a grant of probate of the will, or administration of the
estate, of the person or by a person interested in the estate of the
32B
Effect of revocation of grant
32B Effect of revocation of grant
(1) If a grant of probate or administration has been revoked under this
Act—
(a) the executor or administrator to whom the grant was made must
account to the Supreme Court for the property that he or she has
received, or that has vested in him or her, as the executor or
administrator, and the court may make the orders it considers
appropriate in relation to the disposal by the executor or
administrator of so much of that property as remains in his or
her hands; and
(b) the executor or administrator is not liable in relation to property
that he or she has disposed of under the grant in good faith before
the revocation of the grant if he or she complied with section 9B
in relation to the disposing of that property; and
(c) the revocation of the grant does not, of its own force, invalidate
a disposal of property made by, or to, the executor or
administrator before the revocation of the grant; and
(d) a person entitled to any property that has been distributed by the
executor or administrator to whom the grant was made may
apply to the court for an order under subsection (2); and
(e) an action does not lie against the registrar-general for loss
suffered by any person in consequence of the registration of a
dealing with land under the Land Titles Act 1925, being a
dealing lawfully made by the executor or administrator before
the revocation of the grant; and
(f) the court may make the vesting orders it considers appropriate.
(2) If the Supreme Court, on application made under subsection (1) (d)
in relation to property, is satisfied that the applicant is the person
entitled to the property and that the respondent to the application is
the appropriate person in relation to the property, the court may make
an order directing the respondent—
(a) if the respondent is in possession of the property—to return the
property to the applicant or pay to the applicant the sum the court
considers reasonable in the circumstances; or
(b) in any other case—to pay to the applicant the sum the court
considers reasonable in the circumstances.
(3) For this section, the appropriate person, in relation to property
distributed under a probate or administration that has been revoked,
is—
(a) if the person to whom the property was so distributed is alive—
that person; or
(b) if the person to whom the property was so distributed is dead—
the executor of the will or administrator of the will or estate of
that person or a person who has benefited as a result of the
property having been distributed to that person.
(4) This section does not affect any entitlement of an executor or
administrator to commission, or to any protection, indemnity,
reimbursement or right under any other section of this Act.
38A
Estate to vest in public trustee and guardian until grant
38A Estate to vest in public trustee and guardian until grant
(a) a person dies; and
(b) representation has not been granted.
(2) The person’s real and personal estate vests in the public trustee and
guardian.
(3) The public trustee and guardian may undertake the administration of
the person’s estate while the person’s property is vested in the public
trustee and guardian.
(4) However, subsection (3) does not require the public trustee and
guardian—
(a) to administer the estate; or
(b) act as trustee of any trust created by the person’s will; or
(c) exercise any discretion, power or authority of a personal
representative, trustee or devisee.
39
Real and personal estate to vest in executor or
39 Real and personal estate to vest in executor or
administrator
On the grant of representation of the estate of any deceased person,
all real and personal estate of which the person dies seised or
possessed of, or entitled to, in the ACT, and that is unadministered at
the date of the grant, passes to and becomes vested in the executor to
whom probate has been granted or the administrator for all his or her
estate and interest therein in the following way:
(a) on testacy in the executor or administrator with the will annexed;
(b) on intestacy in the administrator;
(c) on partial intestacy in the executor or administrator with the will
annexed.
40
Real estate held in trust
40 Real estate held in trust
All real estate held by any person in trust or by way of mortgage, and
vesting under section 39, vests in his or her executor or administrator,
subject to the trusts and equities affecting the estate.
41
Property of deceased to be assets
41 Property of deceased to be assets
(1) The real, as well as the personal, estate of every deceased person are
assets in the hands of his or her executor to whom probate has been
granted, or his or her administrator, for the payment of all duties and
fees, and for the payment of his or her debts in the ordinary course of
administration.
(2) The executor or administrator for purposes of administration, may,
subject to sections 50 and 51, sell that real estate, or mortgage it with
or without a power of sale, and convey it to a purchaser or mortgagee
in as full and effectual a way in law as the deceased person could have
done in his or her lifetime.
41A
Property of deceased liable for debts
41A Property of deceased liable for debts
(1) The following are assets for the payment of the funeral, testamentary
and administrative expenses and the debts and other liabilities of a
deceased person:
(a) the real and personal property of the person, to the extent of the
person’s beneficial interest in it;
(b) any real and personal property disposed of by the person’s will
in exercise of a general power.
(2) If a person—
(a) on whom a beneficial interest in any property referred to in
subsection (1) devolves; or
(b) to whom such an interest is given; or
(c) in whom such an interest vests;
disposes of the interest or of a part of the interest in good faith before
a proceeding is taken or process is sued out against him or her, the
person is personally liable for the value of the interest or part so
disposed of, but the interest or part is not liable to be taken in
execution in the proceeding or under the process.
41B
Appointments by will under general power
41B Appointments by will under general power
If a provision contained in the will of a deceased person operates as
an appointment under a general power to appoint by will, the
property, whether real or personal, that passes because of the
provision vests in the executor or administrator as if the testator had
been entitled to the property at his or her death, whether or not he or
she was so entitled for an estate or interest determining on his or her
death or for any other estate or interest.
41C
Administration of assets
41C Administration of assets
(1) If the estate of a deceased person is sufficient for the payment in full
of all the expenses, debts and liabilities payable from the estate, the
person’s real and personal property is, subject to the provisions of the
person’s will (if any) and to any law in force in the ACT about charges
on property, applicable in the order set out in schedule 4, part 4.1 for
the payment of the expenses, debts and liabilities payable from the
(2) If the estate of a deceased person is insufficient for the payment in
full of all the expenses, debts and liabilities payable from the estate,
the person’s real and personal property must, subject to the
Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cwlth), be administered in accordance with the
rules set out in schedule 4, part 4.2.
41D
Application of income of settled residuary estate
41D Application of income of settled residuary estate
(1) If a deceased person leaves a will containing a residuary gift because
of which real or personal property is settled by way of succession,
this section applies to and in relation to the income derived from that
property.
(2) The income to which this section applies is not applicable in payment
of—
(a) the funeral, testamentary or administrative expenses payable
from the estate of the person; or
(b) the debts or liabilities of the person; or
(c) any interest that accrued on any such debts or liabilities before
the death of the person; or
(d) any legacies bequeathed by the will of the person.
(3) The income to which this section applies is applicable in payment of
the interest (if any) that accrues—
(a) on the funeral, testamentary or administrative expenses payable
from the estate of the person; or
(b) after the death of the person, on the debts or liabilities of the
person; or
(c) on any legacies bequeathed by the will of the person;
before payment, and the income is so applicable in priority to any
other assets in the estate of the person.
(4) Subject to subsection (3), the income to which this section applies is
payable to the person for the time being entitled to the income from
the settled property.
(5) If, in the final adjustment of the estate of a deceased person among
the persons entitled to share in the distribution of the estate—
(a) property (other than property referred to in subsection (1)) is
treated as if it had been used in the proper order in payment of
the funeral, testamentary and administrative expenses, the debts
and the liabilities of the estate or of any legacies bequeathed by
the will of the deceased person although it was not in fact so
used; and
(b) income was earned by that property after the death of the person
but before the property was so used or was treated as having
been so used;
that income is, for this section, taken to be income to which this
section applies.
(6) This section—
(a) does not affect the rights of a creditor of the estate; and
(b) applies subject to the provisions of the will of the deceased
person and of any law in force in the ACT in relation to charges
on the property of a deceased person.
42
Real estate to be held on trusts of will
42 Real estate to be held on trusts of will
Subject to this part, the real estate of every deceased person devising
that estate by will must be held by the executor to whom probate has
been granted, or the administrator with the will annexed, according to
the trusts and dispositions of the will.
43
Rights of executor in relation to real estate
43 Rights of executor in relation to real estate
The executor to whom probate has been granted has the same rights,
and is subject to the same duties, in relation to the real estate of the
testator, as executors had or were subject to in relation to personal
assets under the law in force in New South Wales as in force
immediately before 21 October 1929.
Note The provisions of this division were relocated from the Imperial Acts
(Substituted Provisions) Act 1986, sch 2, pt 3 (for the effect of a
relocation, see Legislation Act 2001, s 96). The 1986 Act substituted
provisions for certain UK Acts that applied (or may have applied) in the
ACT and repealed those Acts. The provisions of sch 2, pt 3 were
substituted for 25 Edw. 3, St. 5, c 5 (1351). The 1986 Act, s 4 (1)
provided, in effect, that the rules of law about the interpretation of
consolidating Acts apply to the interpretation of the provisions of a law
set out in sch 2. These rules of law continue to apply to this division (see
Legislation Act 2001, s 96 (3)).
43A
Executor of executor
43A Executor of executor
If—
(a) probate of the will of a testator has been granted to a person (in
this division called the original executor) as the sole executor,
or as 1 of the executors, of the will of the testator; and
(b) the original executor was, immediately before his or her death,
the sole, or the last surviving, executor of the will of the testator;
and
(c) probate of the will of the original executor is granted to the
executor, or 1 of the executors, (the succeeding executor) of the
will of the original executor;
the succeeding executor becomes, on the grant of probate of the will
of the original executor—
(d) the executor of the will of the testator; and
(e) the executor of the will of any other testator of whose will the
testator was, immediately before his or her death, the executor
under the application, or successive applications, of this section.
Position of executor of an executor Division 3.4
43B
When ceases to represent deceased
43B When ceases to represent deceased
If, after a person has become the executor of the will of a testator
under the application, or of successive applications, of section 43A,
another person who was appointed an executor of the will of that
testator is granted probate of that will, the firstmentioned person
ceases, on the grant of that probate, to be the executor of the will of
that testator.
43C
Rights and liabilities of executor of executor
43C Rights and liabilities of executor of executor
While a person who has become the executor of the will of a testator
under the application, or of successive applications, of section 43A,
continues to be the executor of the will of the testator—
(a) the person has the same rights in relation to the estate of that
testator as the original executor, or the original executors, would
have if living; and
(b) the person is, to the extent to which the estate of the testator has
come to his or her hands, answerable as if the person were the
original executor, or 1 of the original executors of the will of the
testator.
44
Interpretation for pt 3A
44 Interpretation for pt 3A
In this part:
eligible partner, of an intestate, means someone, other than the
spouse, civil union partner or civil partner of the intestate, who—
(a) was the intestate’s domestic partner when the intestate died; and
(b) either—
(i) had been the intestate’s domestic partner continuously for
2 or more years when the intestate died; or
(ii) is the parent of the intestate’s child, if the child was under
18 years old when the intestate died.
Note For the meaning of domestic partner, see Legislation Act, s 169.
intestate means a person who dies on or after 1 July 1967 and either
does not leave a will or leaves a will but does not dispose effectively,
by the will, of the whole or part of his or her real or personal property.
intestate estate, in relation to an intestate, means—
(a) for an intestate who leaves a will—the real and personal
property of the intestate that is not effectively disposed of by the
will; or
(b) in any other case—the real and personal property of the
partner—an intestate’s partner is either of the following:
(a) the spouse, civil union partner or civil partner of the intestate
when the intestate died;
(b) the eligible partner of the intestate.
personal chattels, in relation to an intestate, means the tangible
personal property of the intestate, other than the following:
(a) property used exclusively for a business purpose;
(b) banknotes or coins, unless they are part of a collection made in
pursuit of a hobby or another non-commercial purpose;
(c) property held as a security;
(d) property in which the intestate invested as a hedge against
inflation or adverse currency movements, such as gold bullion
or uncut diamonds;
(e) an interest in land.
personal representative, in relation to an intestate, means the
executor of the will, or the administrator of the estate, of the intestate.
44A
Whole blood or half-blood relationships
44A Whole blood or half-blood relationships
For this division, a relationship may be of the whole blood or the half-
blood.
45
Executor or administrator to hold property of intestate on
45 Executor or administrator to hold property of intestate on
trust for persons entitled
The personal representative of an intestate holds, subject to his or her
rights, powers and duties for the purposes of administration, the
intestate estate on trust for the persons entitled to it in accordance with
this division.
45A
Distribution between spouse, civil union partner or civil
45A Distribution between spouse, civil union partner or civil
partner and eligible partner
(1) If an intestate is survived by both a spouse, civil union partner or civil
partner and an eligible partner, the entitlement of each to the
partnership share of the intestate estate must be worked out as
follows:
(a) if the eligible partner and the intestate had been domestic
partners continuously for less than 5 years when the intestate
died—the partnership share of the intestate estate must be
distributed equally between the spouse, civil union partner or
civil partner and the eligible partner;
(b) if the eligible partner and the intestate had been domestic
partners continuously for 5 years or more when the intestate
died—the eligible partner is exclusively entitled to the
partnership share.
(2) In this section:
partnership share, in relation to an intestate, means the share of the
estate to which the intestate’s partner is entitled under this division.
46
Entitlement of children
46 Entitlement of children
(1) This section applies to a person entitled under this division to the
whole of, or a share in, an intestate estate (the relevant interest) who,
at the time of the death of the intestate, is a child.
(2) The child is entitled to take the relevant interest in the estate
immediately.
48
Estate by courtesy or right of dower not to arise
48 Estate by courtesy or right of dower not to arise
An estate by courtesy or right of dower or an equivalent estate does
not arise out of the real property in relation to which a person dies
49
Distribution of intestate estate
49 Distribution of intestate estate
(1) The person or persons entitled to take an interest in an intestate estate,
and the interest in that estate that that person or those persons are
entitled to take must, subject to this division, be ascertained by
reference to schedule 6 according to the facts and circumstances
existing in relation to the intestate.
(2) If an intestate is survived by his or her partner, the intestate estate is
taken, for schedule 6 and subsection (3), not to include any personal
chattels of the intestate.
(3) For schedule 6, the value of an intestate estate must be ascertained by
deducting from the gross value of that intestate estate an amount equal
to such of the debts and liabilities of the estate, the funeral and
testamentary expenses, the costs and expenses of administering the
estate and the estate duties, probate duties and death duties payable in
relation to the estate as are payable out of that intestate estate.
(4) If an item of schedule 6 provides for the payment of a sum and interest
on that sum out of an intestate estate and then provides for the
payment of an additional sum equal to a particular proportion of the
value of the balance of the intestate estate, the value of the balance of
the intestate estate must be ascertained for that item by ascertaining
the value of the intestate estate in the way provided by subsection (3)
and deducting from that value the firstmentioned sum and the interest
payable on that sum.
(5) For schedule 6—
(a) the brothers and sisters of an intestate; and
(b) the grandparents of an intestate; and
(c) the brothers and sisters of a parent of an intestate; and
(d) the issue of any of those brothers or sisters who predeceased the
intestate;
are the next of kin of the intestate.
49A
Interest of partner on intestacy in personal chattels
49A Interest of partner on intestacy in personal chattels
If an intestate is survived by his or her partner, the partner is entitled
to take, absolutely, any personal chattels of the intestate that are not
effectively disposed of by the will (if any) of the intestate.
49AA Immovable property if intestate domiciled elsewhere
(1) If—
(a) an intestate was, at the time of death, domiciled in the ACT; and
(b) immovable property situated in a place outside the ACT forms
part of the intestate estate; and
(c) the intestate is survived both by a partner and by issue; and
(d) the partner is, under a law of that place, entitled to part or all of
that property, or to a sum of money calculated by reference to
the value of part or all of that property;
the property or part of the property, or the sum of money, to which,
under that law, the partner is entitled, is taken to form part of the
intestate estate for section 49 (3).
(2) Subject to subsection (4), if—
(a) an intestate was, at the time of death, domiciled outside the
ACT; and
(b) the intestate is survived both by a partner and by issue; and
(c) immovable property situated in the ACT forms part of the
intestate estate; and
(d) the partner is, under a law of a place outside the ACT, entitled
to all or part of any other property (other than personal chattels)
that forms part of the intestate estate, or to a sum of money
calculated by reference to the value of all or part of that other
property;
the property or part of the property, or the sum of money, to which,
under that law, the partner is entitled, is taken to form part of the
intestate estate for section 49 (3).
(3) If property or a sum of money is, under subsection (1) or (2), taken to
form part of the intestate estate of an intestate, schedule 6, part 6.1,
item 2 applies as if the references in that item to $200 000 were
references to the sum ascertained by deducting from $200 000 an
amount equal to the value of that property, or to that sum of money.
(4) Subsection (2) does not apply in relation to an intestate estate if the
partner’s share in that part of the estate that devolves in accordance
with the law of the place where the intestate was domiciled would,
under that law, be reduced by an amount calculated by reference to
the value of part or all of the immovable property referred to in
subsection (2) (c).
49B
How distribution to issue is made
49B How distribution to issue is made
(1) If an intestate is survived by issue who are entitled to the whole or a
part of the intestate estate—
(a) if only 1 child of the intestate survives the intestate—that person
is entitled to the whole, or that part, of the intestate estate; or
(b) if the intestate is survived by the issue of his or her child or 1 of
his or her children but by no other issue—those issue are entitled
to the whole, or that part, of the intestate estate through all
degrees according to their stocks, and, if there are more than
1 issue, in equal shares; or
(c) in any other case—the whole or that part of the intestate estate
must be divided into a number of parts ascertained in accordance
with subsection (2) and—
(i) any child of the intestate who survived the intestate is
entitled to 1 of those parts; and
(ii) the issue of any child of the intestate who died before the
intestate leaving issue who survived the intestate are
entitled to 1 of those parts through all degrees, according
to their stocks, and, if there are more than 1 issue, in equal
shares.
(2) The number of parts for subsection (1) (c) is a number equal to the
sum of—
(a) a number equal to the number of children (if any) of the intestate
who survived the intestate; and
(b) a number equal to the number of children (if any) of the intestate
who died before the intestate leaving a child or remoter issue
who survived the intestate.
49BA Gifts made before death of intestate
(1) If—
(a) an intestate has, within the period of 5 years immediately before
death, given any money or property to or for the benefit of a
person who is, under this division, entitled to a share in the
intestate estate, or to or for the benefit of an unentitled partner
of such a person; and
(b) the intestate estate, or a part of the intestate estate, is divisible
between that person, or the issue of that person, and another
person or persons entitled under this division to a share in the
intestate estate;
the money or property is taken to have been given in or towards
satisfaction of the share that the person will become entitled to take,
or would have become entitled to take if he or she had survived the
intestate in the intestate estate or the part of the intestate estate
unless—
(c) the contrary intention appears from the circumstances of the
particular case; or
(d) the value, as at the date of death of the intestate, ascertained in
accordance with the requirements of the personal representative
of the intestate, of all the money or property or of so much of
the money or property in relation to which such a contrary
intention did not appear, does not exceed $10 000.
(2) If, under subsection (1), any money or property is taken to have been
given in or towards satisfaction of the share of a person referred to in
subsection (1), the money or property must be brought into account
at a valuation, as at the date of death of the intestate, in accordance
with the requirements of the personal representative of the intestate,
in calculating the share that the person or the person’s issue is, under
this division, entitled to take in the intestate estate or a part of the
(3) This section does not apply in relation to money or property given to
or for the benefit of the intestate’s partner.
(4) If an intestate has made a gift to which this section applies, the
unentitled partner of a person entitled to a share in the intestate’s
estate is, for subsection (1), someone who—
(a) is not entitled to a share in the intestate’s estate; and
(b) was the domestic partner of the entitled person at the time of the
gift; and
(c) either—
(i) was the entitled person’s spouse, civil union partner or civil
partner at that time; or
(ii) had been the entitled person’s domestic partner
continuously for 2 or more years at that time; or
(iii) was at that time the parent of a child of the entitled person,
if the child was less than 18 years old at that time.
Note For the meaning of domestic partner, see Legislation Act, s 169.
(5) In this section:
given, in relation to money or property, means money or property
paid, transferred, assigned or settled (otherwise than for valuable
consideration).
49C
How distribution to next of kin is made
49C How distribution to next of kin is made
(1) If, under this Act, the next of kin of an intestate are entitled to the
intestate estate, the persons entitled to that intestate estate must be
ascertained as follows:
(a) the brothers and sisters of the intestate who survived the
intestate, and the issue of a brother or sister of the intestate who
died before the intestate, being issue who survived the intestate,
are entitled to the intestate estate;
(b) if the intestate is not survived by any persons entitled to the
intestate estate under paragraph (a) but is survived by 1 or more
grandparents—the grandparent is entitled to the intestate estate
or the grandparents are entitled to the intestate estate in equal
shares;
(c) if the intestate is not survived by any persons entitled to the
intestate estate under paragraph (a) or (b)—the uncles and aunts
of the intestate who survived the intestate and the issue of such
an uncle or aunt who died before the intestate, being issue who
survived the intestate, are entitled to the intestate estate.
(2) An intestate estate must be divided among the brothers and sisters or
the uncles and aunts of the intestate, and the issue of those brothers
or sisters, or uncles or aunts, who died before the intestate, in the same
way as the intestate estate would have been divided among those
persons if the brothers and sisters or the uncles and aunts had been
children of the intestate and the issue of a brother, sister, uncle or aunt
who died before the intestate had been issue of a child of the intestate
who died before the intestate.
49CA How distribution to the Territory is made
If, under this Act, the Territory is entitled to an intestate estate, the
public trustee and guardian—
(a) must hold the intestate estate on trust for the Territory; and
(b) at the end of 6 years from the date of death of the intestate—
(i) in relation to so much of the estate as is not money—must
sell the estate and, after deducting from the proceeds of the
sale all costs and charges lawfully due to the public trustee
and guardian or any other person, pay the balance of the
proceeds to the Territory; or
(ii) in relation to so much of the estate as is money—must, after
deducting all costs and charges lawfully due to the public
trustee and guardian or any other person, pay the balance
of the money to the Territory.
49D
Partial intestacies
49D Partial intestacies
(1) If the partner of an intestate acquires a beneficial interest under the
will of the intestate in the real or personal property of the intestate
(other than in the personal chattels of the intestate), schedule 6 applies
only to the extent it is expressed to apply under this section but the
person or persons entitled to take an interest in the intestate estate,
and the interest in that estate that that person or those persons are
entitled to take, must be ascertained in accordance with this section
according to the facts and circumstances existing in relation to the
(2) If an intestate is survived by his or her partner but not by issue, the
partner is entitled to the whole of the intestate estate.
(3) If the intestate is survived by his or her partner and by issue—
(a) if the value of the beneficial interest that is acquired by the
partner under the will does not exceed $200 000—schedule 6,
part 6.1, item 2 applies as if the references to the sum of
$200 000 were read as references to the sum ascertained by
deducting from $200 000 the value of that beneficial interest; or
(b) if the value of the beneficial interest that is acquired by the
partner under the will exceeds $200 000—
(i) the partner is entitled to be paid out of the intestate estate a
sum equal to, if 1 child or the issue of 1 child of the
intestate but no other issue of the intestate survives the
intestate, 1/2 of the value of the intestate estate or, in any
other case, 1/3 of the value of the intestate estate; and
(ii) the issue of the intestate are entitled to the balance of the
intestate estate after payment to the partner of the sum to
which the partner is entitled under subparagraph (i).
(4) Section 49 (3) applies for subsection (3) in the same way as it applies
for schedule 6.
(5) If a child of an intestate who is entitled to take an interest in the
intestate estate also acquires an interest under the will of the intestate
in the real or personal property of the intestate, the interest to which
the child is entitled under the will must be brought into account, at a
valuation, as at the date of death of the intestate, in accordance with
the requirements of the personal representative of the intestate, in
calculating the interest that the child is entitled to take under this
division in the intestate estate.
(6) For this section, a beneficial interest in real or personal property
acquired because of the exercise, by will, of a general power of
appointment, is taken to be an interest acquired under that will.
49DA Effect of disclaimer or forfeiture
(1) This section applies if a person would be entitled to take an interest
in an intestate estate but either—
(a) disclaims the interest; or
(b) is precluded by the forfeiture rule from obtaining the interest.
(2) The person is taken to have died before the deceased person.
forfeiture rule—see the Forfeiture Act 1991, dictionary.
49E
Presumptions of parentage
49E Presumptions of parentage
For the application of this division and schedule 6 in relation to an
intestate, a presumption of parentage arising under the Parentage
Act 2004, section 9 in relation to a person is taken to operate only if
the presumption arose before the intestate died.
Div 3A
3 Rights of partners to intestate
Division 3A.3 Rights of partners to intestate
dwelling houses
49F
Definitions for div 3A.3
49F Definitions for div 3A.3
In this division:
dwelling house includes—
(a) a garden or portion of ground attached to, and usually occupied
with, a dwelling house, or otherwise required for the amenity or
convenience of a dwelling house; and
(b) a part of a building occupied as a separate dwelling.
representation, in relation to an intestate, means probate of the will,
or administration (including administration with the will of the
intestate annexed) of the estate, of the intestate.
49G
Claim by partner to dwelling house
49G Claim by partner to dwelling house
(1) Subject to this division, if the intestate estate of an intestate who is
survived by a partner comprises or includes an interest in a dwelling
house where the partner was residing at the date of the intestate’s
death, the partner may elect to have that interest appropriated under
the Trustee Act 1925, section 46 in or towards the satisfaction of any
interest of the partner in the real and personal property of the intestate.
(2) An election under this section may be exercised within a period of
1 year after the date representation in the estate of the intestate is
granted by the Supreme Court or within any extended period the court
allows.
(3) If—
(a) probate of a will of the intestate has been revoked on the ground
that the will was invalid; or
Rights of partners to intestate dwelling houses Division 3A.3
(b) a question whether a person had an interest in the estate of the
intestate, or a question about the nature of an interest claimed in
the estate of the intestate, had not been determined at the time
when administration of the estate was granted or first granted;
or
(c) the Supreme Court, for any other reason affecting the
administration or distribution of the estate, considers it proper to
do so;
the court may extend the period specified in subsection (2).
(4) An election by a partner must be given in writing—
(a) if the partner is not a personal representative of the intestate—
to the personal representative, or to each personal representative,
of the intestate; or
(b) if the partner is 1 of the personal representatives of the
intestate—to the other personal representative, or to each other
personal representative, of the intestate; or
(c) if the partner is the sole personal representative of the intestate—
to the registrar.
(5) An election is not revocable except with the consent of the personal
representative or of each personal representative of the intestate.
(6) A partner may require the personal representative of the intestate to
have the interest in the dwelling house valued, and to inform the
partner of the result of that valuation, before deciding whether to
exercise the right given by this division.
49H
Valuation
49H Valuation
For this division, the value of the interest of an intestate in a dwelling
house is the amount determined by a qualified valuer engaged by the
personal representatives of the intestate to be the market value of the
interest.
49J
Right not exercisable for certain tenancies
49J Right not exercisable for certain tenancies
The right given by this division is not exercisable if the interest of the
intestate in the dwelling house is a tenancy—
(a) that will determine within a period of 2 years after the date of
death of the intestate; or
(b) that the landlord is, by notice given after the date of death of the
intestate, entitled to determine before the end of that period.
49K
Right not exercisable in certain other cases
49K Right not exercisable in certain other cases
If—
(a) a dwelling house forms part of a building and an interest in the
whole of the building is comprised in an intestate estate; or
(b) a dwelling house is held with agricultural land and an interest in
the agricultural land is comprised in an intestate estate; or
(c) the whole or a part of a dwelling house was, at the date of an
intestate’s death, used as a hotel or boarding house; or
(d) a part of a dwelling house was, at the date of an intestate’s death,
used for purposes other than domestic purposes;
the right given by this division to a partner of the intestate in relation
to the dwelling house is not exercisable by the partner unless the
Supreme Court so orders, being satisfied that the exercise of that right
is not likely to—
(e) diminish the value of the assets (other than the interest in the
dwelling house) in the intestate estate; or
(f) make those assets more difficult to dispose of.
Rights of partners to intestate dwelling houses Division 3A.3
49L
Personal representative not to sell or dispose of interest
49L Personal representative not to sell or dispose of interest
without consent
(1) A personal representative of an intestate is not authorised to sell or
otherwise dispose of the interest of the intestate in a dwelling house
in which a partner of the intestate was residing at the date of the
intestate’s death, during the period of 1 year after the date
representation in the estate of the intestate is granted by the Supreme
Court or, if that period is extended by the court, during that extended
period without the written consent of the partner, except in the course
of administration owing to want of other assets or except with the
approval of the court.
(2) If on an application under section 49K made by a partner or by the
personal representatives of the intestate, the Supreme Court does not
order that the right given by section 49G may be exercised by the
partner, the court may approve the disposal of the interest in the
dwelling house within the period of 1 year referred to in
subsection (1).
(3) This section does not apply if the partner of the intestate is the sole
personal representative, or 1 of 2 or more personal representatives, of
the intestate.
(4) Nothing in this section is taken to affect the validity of a sale by the
personal representatives of an intestate of any part of the estate of the
49M
Rule that trustee not to purchase trust property
49M Rule that trustee not to purchase trust property
If a partner of an intestate is the sole personal representative of the
intestate or 1 of 2 or more personal representatives of the intestate,
the partner may, even though he or she is a trustee, acquire under this
division the interest of the intestate in the dwelling house in which
the partner was residing at the date of the intestate’s death.
49N
If surviving partner is under legal disability
49N If surviving partner is under legal disability
(1) If a partner of an intestate is a person of unsound mind, a requirement
or consent under this division may be made or given on the partner’s
behalf by his or her committee (if any) or, if there is no committee,
by the Supreme Court.
(2) A requirement or consent made or given under this division by a
surviving partner who is a child is as valid as it would be if he or she
were at least 18 years old.
Simultaneous deaths Part 3B
Part 3B
Simultaneous deaths
Part 3B Simultaneous deaths
49P
Simultaneous deaths—devolution of property generally
49P Simultaneous deaths—devolution of property generally
(a) a person who has died (the beneficiary) would, if the person had
not died, have been entitled, under a will or on an intestacy, to
an interest in the estate of someone else who has died (the
benefactor); and
(b) the beneficiary and the benefactor died at the same time or in an
order that is uncertain.
(2) The property of the benefactor devolves as if the benefactor had
survived the beneficiary and had died immediately after the
beneficiary.
49Q
Simultaneous deaths—devolution of jointly owned
49Q Simultaneous deaths—devolution of jointly owned
property
(1) This section applies to property—
(a) that was owned jointly and exclusively by 2 or more people who
died at the same time or in an order that is uncertain; and
(b) that was not held by them as trustees.
(2) The property devolves as if the joint owners had, at the time of their
deaths, held the property as tenants in common in equal shares.
Part 3C
Functions of executors and
Part 3C Functions of executors and
administrators
50
Powers of executors and administrators to sell, mortgage
50 Powers of executors and administrators to sell, mortgage
or lease real estate
(1) Subject to this section, an executor or an administrator may, without
the consent of any person or the order of a court—
(a) sell or mortgage the real estate of the deceased person for
purposes of administration; or
(b) sell the real estate of the deceased person in relation to which he
or she died intestate, for purposes of distribution or division
among the persons entitled; or
(c) lease the real estate of the deceased person in possession for any
term not exceeding 3 years; or
(d) raise, on the security of the whole or any part of the intestate
estate of the deceased person, any sum required by the executors
or administrators for the purpose of paying to a partner of the
person the share, or a part of the share, of the partner in the
intestate estate of the person.
(2) Any conditions may be imposed on the exercise of the power of sale,
mortgage, lease or raising of any sum by an administrator, and either
generally or for a particular sale, mortgage, lease or raising of any
sum, by rules of court, or by the Supreme Court in the grant of
administration (if any), or by other order.
(3) The registrar must write on letters of administration issued by him or
her, and on any copy of the letters of administration, a certified copy
of any conditions imposed by the Supreme Court under
subsection (2).
(4) A purchaser, mortgagee, lessee or other person who for valuable
consideration acquires an interest in the estate of the deceased person,
or the registrar-general or other person registering title under any sale,
mortgage or lease under this section, is not bound to inquire whether
the powers mentioned in subsection (1) or any of them are being or
have been exercised for the purposes specified in that subsection, and
the receipt of the executor or administrator is a sufficient discharge,
and exonerates the persons paying the money from any responsibility
for the application of the money expressed to have been so received.
(5) Some or 1 only of several executors or administrators may exercise
those powers with the leave of the Supreme Court, and not otherwise,
and the court may make any orders it considers appropriate for the
purpose of carrying out any such sale, mortgage, lease or raising of
any sum.
(6) In this section:
intestate—see section 44.
intestate estate—see section 44.
partner, in relation to an intestate—see section 44.
51
Supreme Court may make special order
51 Supreme Court may make special order
The Supreme Court may, if administration has been granted, on the
application of the administrator, or for partial intestacy the executor
or administrator with the will annexed, or of any person beneficially
interested, and after the notice to the other parties and inquiry the
court considers appropriate, order and direct the course of
proceedings which must be taken in regard to—
(a) the time and method of sale of any real estate; and
(b) the letting and management of any real estate until sale; and
(c) the application for maintenance or advancement or otherwise of
shares or income of shares of children; and
(d) the expediency and mode of effecting a partition, if applied for;
and generally in regard to the administration of the real estate for the
greatest advantage of all persons interested.
51A
Supreme Court may authorise postponement of
51A Supreme Court may authorise postponement of
realisation and carrying on of business
(1) The Supreme Court may, if it considers it beneficial so to do and
subject to the conditions it considers appropriate to impose, authorise
an executor or administrator—
(a) to postpone, for the period the court considers appropriate, the
realisation of the real or personal estate of a deceased person, or
any part of that estate; or
(b) to carry on, for the period or periods that the court from time to
time considers appropriate, the business, trade or occupation of
the deceased person, and for that purpose to use the estate or part
of it.
(2) An order under this section may be made either ex parte or on the
notice the Supreme Court considers proper, and may be varied from
time to time as the court considers appropriate.
52
Supreme Court may order partition in summary way
52 Supreme Court may order partition in summary way
(1) If, on any such inquiry, the Supreme Court is satisfied that a partition
of the real estate, or any part of it, will be advantageous to the parties
interested, the court may appoint 1 or more arbitrators to effect the
partition.
(2) The report and final award of the arbitrators setting out particulars of
the land allotted to each party interested is, when signed by them and
confirmed by the order of the Supreme Court, and registered in the
office of the registrar-general, effective without the necessity of any
further conveyance to vest in each party the land allotted to the party,
and an office copy of the award so signed, confirmed, and registered,
is for all purposes equivalent to an indenture of conveyance to each
party of the land allotted to the party.
(3) For land subject to the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900
(NSW) or the Land Titles Act 1925, each party is entitled to the issue
of a certificate of title for the land allotted to the party.
(4) If the allotment is made subject to the charge of any money payable
to any other party interested for equalising the partition, the charge
taken effect according to the terms and conditions in regard to time
and method and otherwise that are expressed in the award without the
necessity of any further instrument being made or executed.
(5) For land subject to the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900
(NSW) or the Land Titles Act 1925, the land must be registered,
subject to the charge, unless the charge is satisfied.
53
Personal representative not required to continue to act
53 Personal representative not required to continue to act
against own consent
A personal representative must not be required against his or her
consent to continue the duty of a trustee by managing the property
during an enforced suspension of sale, but is entitled, on that
suspension being ordered, to relinquish his or her trust to the person
the Supreme Court appoints.
54
In suits executor or administrator to represent real estate
54 In suits executor or administrator to represent real estate
In all suits concerning the real estate of a deceased person, the
executor to whom probate has been granted or administrator
represents the real estate so long as it remains vested in the executor
or administrator, and the persons interested, in the same way and to
the same extent as, in suits concerning personal estate, the executor
or administrator represents the estate and the persons interested.
55
All debts to stand in equal degree
55 All debts to stand in equal degree
(1) In the administration of the estate of a deceased person, all the
creditors of every description of that person must, despite anything to
the contrary contained in any law, be treated as standing in equal
degree and be paid accordingly out of the assets of the deceased
(2) In the administration of the estate of a deceased person in relation to
which representation is granted under this Act, no debt or liability of
that person is entitled to any priority or preference only because it is
due to an executor or administrator of the estate.
(3) This Act does not prejudice or affect any mortgage, lien charge, or
other security that any creditor may hold or be entitled to for payment
of a debt.
(4) Nothing in this Act affects the provisions of any law protecting life
assurance or other policies against creditors.
55A
Interest on legacies
55A Interest on legacies
(1) Subject to subsection (2), if interest is payable on a legacy in
accordance with the will under which the legacy is payable or in
accordance with any enactment or rule of law, that interest is, unless
the will otherwise provides, or the Supreme Court otherwise orders,
payable at the rate determined by the Minister.
(2) If an executor or administrator, in accordance with any power given
to him or her by a will under which a legacy (other than an annuity)
is payable, appropriates any property in or towards satisfaction of the
legacy, the legatee is entitled to the income from the property so
appropriated, and interest is not payable out of any other part of the
estate on so much of the legacy as has been satisfied by the
appropriation.
(3) A determination under subsection (1) is a disallowable instrument.
Note A disallowable instrument must be notified, and presented to the
Legislative Assembly, under the Legislation Act 2001.
56
Executor may sign acknowledgment instead of
56 Executor may sign acknowledgment instead of
conveyance
(1) If any real estate not under the Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) or the
Land Titles Act 1925 is devised to any person by a will duly proved
under this Act, the executor of the will or the administrator with the
will annexed may, as the executor or administrator, instead of
executing a conveyance to that person, sign an acknowledgment that
the devisee is entitled to that real estate for the estate for which it is
devised to him or her.
(2) The acknowledgment may be registered under the law in force
regulating the registration of deeds, and on registration of the
acknowledgment the real estate vests in the devisee for the estate for
which it is devised to him or her in the same way, and subject to the
same trusts and liabilities, as if the executor or administrator had
executed a conveyance of the acknowledgment.
57
Summary application for legacy etc
57 Summary application for legacy etc
If the executor or administrator, after written request, neglects or
refuses to—
(a) sign that acknowledgment; or
(b) execute a conveyance of land devised to the devisee; or
(c) pay or hand over to the person entitled any legacy or residuary
bequest;
the devisee or person may apply to the Supreme Court, calling on the
executor or administrator to show cause why he or she should not
comply with the request, and the court may make any order in the
matter it considers appropriate.
58
Examination and passing of accounts etc
58 Examination and passing of accounts etc
(1) The rules may require—
(a) the executor or administrator of the estate of a deceased person
to file an inventory of the estate; and
(b) accounts of the executor or administrator of the estate of a
deceased person to be examined and passed.
(2) The Supreme Court may, by order, require—
(a) the executor or administrator of the estate of a deceased person
to file an inventory of the estate; and
(b) accounts of the executor or administrator of the estate of a
deceased person to be examined and passed.
(3) An order of the Supreme Court passing an account of the executor or
administrator of the estate of a deceased person—
(a) is evidence of its correctness; and
(b) operates, after the end of 3 years after the date of the order, to
release the executor or administrator.
(4) However, subsection (3) (b) does not apply to an account as far as
someone interested in the estate shows that an error or omission or
fraudulent entry has been made in the account.
61
Supreme Court may make order about disposal of money
61 Supreme Court may make order about disposal of money
in hands of executor etc
(1) The Supreme Court may make any order it considers appropriate in
relation to the distribution or application of any money that the
executor or administrator has in hand, or about the residue of the
(2) No final order for distribution may made except on notice to all the
parties entitled.
62
Payments under revoked probates or administrations
62 Payments under revoked probates or administrations
valid
The executor or administrator who has acted under any revoked
probate or administration may keep and reimburse himself or herself,
or be entitled to be reimbursed for, an amount equal to the amount of
any payments made by him or her that the person to whom probate or
administration is afterwards, or was originally, granted might have
lawfully made.
63
Persons etc making payments on probate granted for
63 Persons etc making payments on probate granted for
estate of deceased person to be indemnified
All persons making or permitting to be made any payment or transfer,
in good faith, on any probate or administration or order granted in
relation to the estate of any deceased person under this Act must be
indemnified and protected in so doing, despite any defect or
circumstance of any kind affecting the validity of the probate or
administration or order not then known to those persons.
64
Notice before distribution of assets
64 Notice before distribution of assets
(1) An executor or administrator of a deceased person’s estate may give
public notice before distributing the assets of the estate.
Note 1 Public notice may be given before making a distribution under the
following provisions:
(a) the Family Provision Act 1969, s 21 (Protection of administrator);
(b) the Trustee Act 1925, s 60 (Distribution after notice).
Note 2 If a form is approved for a particular purpose under the Court Procedures
Act 2004, s 8 the form must be used for that purpose.
(2) The public notice must state that—
(a) a creditor or anyone else may give the executor or administrator
their claim against the estate within the period stated in the
notice, being at least 1 month after the notice is given; and
(b) the executor or administrator intends to distribute the estate after
the later of the following:
(i) the end of the period stated in the notice;
(ii) 6 months after the day probate or administration was
granted; and
(c) the executor or administrator will only consider claims that are
given to the executor or administrator when distributing the
(3) The executor or administrator must consider each claim given within
the period stated in the notice.
(4) The executor or administrator is not liable to any person for any
distributed assets if the executor or administrator—
(a) gave notice under subsection (1); and
(b) did not have notice of the person’s claim when the distribution
was made.
65
Claims barred against executor or administrator in
65 Claims barred against executor or administrator in
certain cases
(1) If an executor or administrator has given notices under section 64 and
a claim against the estate is sent to him or her, the executor or
administrator may serve a notice on the claimant calling the claimant
to take proceedings to enforce the claim within a period of 6 months,
and to duly prosecute the claim.
(2) If, after that period of 6 months has ended, that person does not satisfy
the Supreme Court that he or she is duly prosecuting the claim, the
court may, on application by the executor or administrator, make an
order barring the claim against the executor or administrator, subject
to any conditions that appear just, or make any other order the court
considers appropriate.
66
Distribution of estate by executors and administrators
66 Distribution of estate by executors and administrators
(1) If an executor or administrator liable as such, under any lease or
agreement for a lease granted or assigned to, or made and entered into
with, the testator or intestate whose estate is being administered, to
the rents, covenants, or agreements contained in the lease or
agreement has—
(a) satisfied all liabilities under the lease, or agreement for a lease,
as have accrued due and been claimed up to the assignment
mentioned in paragraph (c); and
(b) set apart a sufficient sum to answer any future claim that may be
made in relation to any fixed and ascertained sum, covenanted
or agreed by the lessee, to be laid out on the property demised,
or agreed to be demised, although the period for laying out the
sum may not have arrived; and
(c) assigned the lease, or agreement for a lease, to a purchaser, or to
a legatee, devisee, or other person entitled to call for a
conveyance of it;
the executor or administrator may distribute the estate of the testator
or intestate remaining in his or her hands among the parties entitled
respectively, without appropriating any part or any further part of it
to meet any future liability under the lease or agreement.
(2) An executor or administrator so distributing the estate is not, after
having made or executed that assignment, and having, if necessary,
set apart that sufficient fund, personally liable in relation to any
subsequent claim under any such lease, or agreement for a lease.
assignment includes an acknowledgment within the meaning of
section 56.
lease includes an underlease.
67
Right to follow assets
67 Right to follow assets
Nothing in section 64, 65 or 66 prejudices the right of any creditor or
claimant or lessor, or those claiming under any lessor, to follow the
assets or estate, or any part of the assets or estate, into the hands of
the persons, or any of them, among whom they may have been
distributed, or who may have received them.
68
Executors may compound etc
68 Executors may compound etc
An executor or administrator may—
(a) pay any debts or claims on any evidence that he or she considers
sufficient; or
(b) accept any composition, or any security, real or personal, for any
debts due to the deceased person; or
(c) allow any time for the payment of any such debts as he or she
considers appropriate; or
(d) compromise, compound, or submit to arbitration, all debts,
accounts, claims, and things whatsoever relating to the estate of
the deceased person; and
(e) for any of the purposes mentioned in this section, enter into,
give, and execute any agreements, instruments of composition,
releases, and other things he or she considers expedient, without
being responsible for any loss occasioned thereby.
69
Every executor etc taken to be resident in ACT
69 Every executor etc taken to be resident in ACT
Every executor or administrator—
(a) named in any probate or letters of administration granted by any
court of competent jurisdiction in any part of a Commonwealth
country and making application under this Act for the sealing of
the probate or administration; or
(b) appointed under this Act;
is taken to be resident in the ACT.
70
Executors etc may be allowed commission
70 Executors etc may be allowed commission
The Supreme Court may allow out of the assets of a deceased person
to the person’s executor, administrator or trustee the commission or
percentage for his or her services that is just.
Part 3D
Liability of certain persons in relation to deceased estates
Part 3D Liability of certain persons in relation to deceased estates
Part 3D Liability of certain persons in
relation to deceased estates
Note The provisions of this part were relocated from the Imperial Acts
(Substituted Provisions) Act 1986, sch 2 (for the effect of a relocation,
see Legislation Act 2001, s 96). The 1986 Act substituted provisions for
certain UK Acts that applied (or may have applied) in the ACT and
repealed those Acts. The 1986 Act, s 4 (1) provided, in effect, that the
rules of law about the interpretation of consolidating Acts apply to the
interpretation of the provisions of a law set out in schedule 2. These rules
of law continue to apply to this part (see Legislation Act 2001, s 96 (3)).
74A
Fraudulently obtaining or keeping property
74A Fraudulently obtaining or keeping property
A person—
(a) who—
(i) by obtaining, receiving or holding any real or personal
property forming part of the estate of a deceased person; or
(ii) by effecting the release of a debt or liability due to the
estate of a deceased person;
defrauds any creditor of the estate of the deceased person; or
(b) who, without full valuable consideration—
(i) obtains, receives or holds any real or personal property
forming part of the estate of a deceased person; or
(ii) effects the release of a debt or liability due to the estate of
a deceased person;
Liability of certain persons in relation to deceased estates Part 3D
is liable and chargeable as an executor in his or her own wrong to the
extent of the real and personal property forming part of the estate of
the deceased person that the person receives, or that comes into his or
her hands, less—
(c) the amount of any debt incurred for valuable consideration and
without fraud that was due to the person from the deceased
person at the time of his or her death; and
the amount of any payment made by the person that might have been
properly made by the personal representative of the deceased person.
Note The provisions of this section were substituted for 43 Eliz. 1 c 8 (1601).
74B
Persons liable for waste of deceased estate
74B Persons liable for waste of deceased estate
If a person (the relevant person) has, as the personal representative
of a deceased person or as the executor in his or her own wrong of the
will of a deceased person, wasted or converted to his or her own use
any part of the estate of the deceased person, then, on the death of the
relevant person, the personal representative of the relevant person is,
to the extent of the available assets of the relevant person, liable and
chargeable in relation to that waste or conversion in the same way as
the relevant person would have been if the relevant person has not
died.
Note The provisions of this section were substituted for 30 Chas. 2 c 7 (1678)
and 4 Will. and Mary c 24, s 12 (1692).
79A
Orders to collect and administer estates for pt 5
79A Orders to collect and administer estates for pt 5
For this part, a reference to an order to collect and administer an estate
includes a reference to an exemplification of an order to collect and
administer.
79B
Inclusion of orders to collect and Scottish confirmation
79B Inclusion of orders to collect and Scottish confirmation
For this part, a reference to probate or administration includes a
reference to—
(a) an order to a curator or someone else to collect and administer
an estate; and
(b) a confirmation of the executor or someone else granted in a
sheriff court in Scotland.
80
Reseal of grant made in reciprocating jurisdiction
80 Reseal of grant made in reciprocating jurisdiction
(1) This section applies if a court of competent jurisdiction in a
reciprocating jurisdiction has granted probate of a will, administration
of an estate or an order to collect and administer an estate.
(2) On application by a relevant person, the Supreme Court may order
that the probate, administration or order be sealed with the seal of the
court.
(3) For subsection (2), each of the following is a relevant person:
(a) for a probate of a will—
(i) the executor to whom the probate was granted; or
(ii) a person authorised by the executor, under a power of
attorney, to make the application; or
(iii) the executor, by representation, of the will;
Recognition of foreign grants Part 5
(b) for administration of an estate—
(i) the administrator to whom the administration was granted;
or
(ii) the person authorised by the administrator, under a power
of attorney, to make the application;
(c) for an order to collect and administer an estate—a public trustee
in the reciprocating jurisdiction to whom the order was granted.
(4) In this section:
reciprocating jurisdiction means—
(a) a State; or
(b) a Commonwealth country; or
(c) a country, or part of a country, prescribed by regulation.
80B
Supreme Court may require security
80B Supreme Court may require security
The Supreme Court may, before or after sealing a probate,
administration or order to collect and administer an estate under
section 80 (Reseal of grant made in reciprocating jurisdiction),
require the applicant to give security for the proper administration of
the estate to which it relates.
80C
Effect of sealing
80C Effect of sealing
(1) If a probate or administration is sealed under section 80 (Reseal of
grant made in reciprocating jurisdiction)—
(a) the probate or administration has the same effect as if it had been
originally granted by the Supreme Court; and
(b) the person who applied under section 80 must exercise the same
functions, and is subject to the same liabilities, as if the person
had been originally granted the probate or administration by the
court.
(2) If an order to collect and administer an estate is sealed under
section 80, the person who applied under that section has the same
functions, and is subject to the same liabilities, as if the person was
the public trustee and guardian and the order was an order to collect
and administer the estate granted to the public trustee and guardian
under section 88.
87B
Estates valued at $30 000 or less
87B Estates valued at $30 000 or less
(1) The public trustee and guardian may administer the estate of a
deceased person if satisfied that—
(a) the net value of the estate is not more than $30 000; and
(b) application has not been made for a grant of probate of the will,
or administration of the estate, of the deceased person.
(2) For subsection (1), the public trustee and guardian may do any of the
following:
(a) call in the estate;
(b) sell and convert into money the part of the estate that does not
consist of money;
(c) pay any of the deceased person’s debts and liabilities;
(d) deal with the balance (if any) of the estate as if probate of the
will or administration of the estate had been granted by the
Supreme Court.
(3) If any money remains after the estate is administered in accordance
with subsection (2), the public trustee and guardian must deal with
the money as follows:
(a) if the public trustee and guardian is of the opinion that the person
died testate—as if probate of the last will of the person had been
granted to the public trustee and guardian by the Supreme Court;
(b) in any other case—as if administration of the estate had been
granted to the public trustee and guardian by the Supreme Court.
(4) The public trustee and guardian must not administer an estate under
this section unless notice of intention to do so has been given by
advertisement or otherwise, in the way and form the public trustee
and guardian considers appropriate.
(5) If the public trustee and guardian holds or acquires the will of a
deceased person whose estate is being, or has been, administered
under this section, the public trustee and guardian must file the will
in the Supreme Court.
87C
Estates valued at $150 000 or less
87C Estates valued at $150 000 or less
(1) The public trustee and guardian may file in the Supreme Court an
election, signed by the public trustee and guardian, to administer the
estate of a deceased person if—
(a) the person left property in the ACT; and
(b) the gross value of that property does not, in the opinion of the
public trustee and guardian, exceed $150 000; and
(c) probate of the will, or administration of the estate, of the person
has not been granted by the Supreme Court to any person; and
(d) the public trustee and guardian is entitled under section 88 to
apply for an order to collect and administer the estate of the
(2) An election under subsection (1) in relation to the estate of a deceased
person must contain—
(a) particulars of the name of the deceased person; and
(b) the particulars of the place of residence, and the occupation, of
the deceased person at the time of death that are known to the
public trustee and guardian; and
(c) the particulars of the date of death, and the property forming part
of the estate, of the deceased person that are known to the public
trustee and guardian.
(3) If, in the opinion of the public trustee and guardian, a deceased person
died testate, an election must have the will of the person annexed to
it and must state that the will was, in the opinion of the public trustee
and guardian, duly executed by the person.
(4) If the public trustee and guardian has filed an election, the estate of
the person vests in the public trustee and guardian, and the public
trustee and guardian has the functions that he or she would have had
if the Supreme Court had, under section 88, granted to the public
trustee and guardian an order to collect and administer the estate of
the person.
(5) The public trustee and guardian must give public notice of each
election filed under this section, and public notice in relation to an
estate is conclusive evidence that the public trustee and guardian is
entitled to administer the estate of the deceased person.
Note Public notice means notice on an ACT government website or in a daily
newspaper circulating in the ACT (see Legislation Act, dict, pt 1).
(6) If, after the public trustee and guardian has filed an election—
(a) if the will of the deceased person was annexed to the election—
a later will; or
(b) in any other case—a will;
of the deceased person comes into the possession of the public trustee
and guardian, the public trustee and guardian must file in the Supreme
Court a notice, signed by the public trustee and guardian, containing
particulars of that will.
(7) If the public trustee and guardian files a notice under subsection (6),
the election is taken to have been revoked and the public trustee and
guardian ceases to have the functions given by this section in relation
to the estate.
(8) If, after the public trustee and guardian has filed an election in relation
to the estate of a deceased person, the gross value of the estate is
found to exceed $150 000, the public trustee and guardian must file
in the Supreme Court a notice, signed by the public trustee and
guardian, certifying that the value of the estate exceeds that amount.
(9) If the public trustee and guardian files a notice under subsection (8),
the election is taken to have been revoked and the public trustee and
guardian ceases to have the functions given by this section in relation
to the estate.
(10) The filing of a notice under subsection (6) or (8) in relation to the
estate of a deceased person does not prevent the public trustee and
guardian from applying, under section 88, for an order to collect and
administer that estate.
(11) If the public trustee and guardian has filed a notice under subsection
(6) or (8) in relation to the estate of a deceased person, the provisions
of section 32B apply as if the filing of an election under this section
was the grant of probate of the will, or administration of the estate, of
the deceased person and the filing of the notice was the revocation of
that grant.
88
Orders to public trustee and guardian to collect and
88 Orders to public trustee and guardian to collect and
administer
(1) The Supreme Court may, on the application of the public trustee and
guardian, grant to the public trustee and guardian an order to collect
and administer the estate of any deceased person leaving real or
personal estate within the jurisdiction in any of the following cases:
(a) if the deceased person leaves no executor, partner or next of kin,
resident within the jurisdiction, willing and capable of acting in
execution of his or her will or administration of his or her estate;
(b) if the executors named renounce probate of the will of the
deceased person, and all the persons primarily entitled to
administration by writing filed with the registrar decline to apply
for administration;
(c) if probate or administration is not applied for within 3 months
after the death of the deceased person;
(d) if, after the end of 30 days from the death there is no reasonable
probability of application being made within that period of 3
months;
(e) if the estate or any part of the estate is liable to waste and the
executor, any partner or the next of kin—
(i) is absent from the locality of the estate; or
(ii) is not known; or
(iii) has not been found; or
(iv) requests the public trustee and guardian in writing to apply
for the order;
(f) if the estate, or any part of it, is—
(i) of a perishable nature; or
(ii) in danger of being lost or destroyed;
(g) if great expense may be incurred because of delay;
(h) if by the will of the deceased person the curator of estates of
deceased persons or the public trustee and guardian is appointed
to act.
(2) The Supreme Court may, in any case—
(a) require the public trustee and guardian to give the notices,
produce the evidence, or do anything else, the court considers
appropriate before granting the order applied for; or
(b) make a temporary order for collection or protection only or a
temporary order limited to a part of the estate or otherwise.
partner, in relation to a deceased person, has the same meaning as it
has in part 3A (Intestacy) in relation to an intestate.
89
Effect of order
89 Effect of order
(1) If an order to collect and administer the estate of any deceased person
is granted, the public trustee and guardian has the same functions in
relation to the estate, except as otherwise expressly provided, that the
public trustee and guardian would have had if administration had
been granted to him or her, and the estate of the deceased person vests
in the public trustee and guardian.
(2) If the Supreme Court grants an order to collect and administer the
estate of a deceased person after having been satisfied that the
deceased person made a valid will that had not been revoked before
death—
(a) a copy of that will must be annexed to the order; and
(b) the public trustee and guardian has, subject to this part, the same
functions in relation to the estate of the person that the public
trustee and guardian would have if administration with the will
annexed of the estate of the deceased person had been granted
to the public trustee and guardian.
(3) All laws for the time being in force in relation to the administration
of the estates of deceased persons apply to the administration of
estates by the public trustee and guardian.
90
Grant of probate or administration despite appointment
90 Grant of probate or administration despite appointment
of public trustee and guardian
(1) Even though that—
(a) the public trustee and guardian is administering the estate of a
deceased person under section 87B; or
(b) the public trustee and guardian has filed an election to
administer the estate of a deceased person under section 87C; or
(c) the public trustee and guardian has been granted an order to
collect and administer the estate of a deceased person under
section 88;
the Supreme Court may grant probate of the will, or administration of
the estate, of the deceased person to an appropriate person on the
conditions it considers appropriate.
(2) An application for a grant under subsection (1) must be served on the
public trustee and guardian in accordance with the rules.
91
Cessation of rights and liabilities of public trustee and
91 Cessation of rights and liabilities of public trustee and
(1) The following cease on the grant of probate or administration under
section 90:
(a) all the interest and functions of the public trustee and guardian
(except rights given by this section) in relation to the estate of
the deceased person whose estate is affected by the grant;
(b) all liabilities of the public trustee and guardian under any
contract or agreement entered into in relation to the estate, or
any part of the estate.
(2) The part of the estate of the deceased person left unadministered by
the public trustee and guardian, and all functions of the public trustee
and guardian in relation to it, vest in the executor or administrator
obtaining the probate or administration.
(3) Nothing in this section interferes with the allowance and payment
of—
(a) all money due for the commission of the public trustee and
guardian; and
(b) the necessary outlay, disbursements, costs, charges, and
expenses in relation to the estate, including all costs in relation
to appearing on the application for the probate or administration.
(4) Nothing in this section relieves the public trustee and guardian from
any liability in relation to the management of the estate up to the time
of granting the probate or administration.
92
Order to public trustee and guardian to collect and
92 Order to public trustee and guardian to collect and
administer in special circumstances
(1) If it is made to appear to the Supreme Court that there is reasonable
ground to suppose that any person has died, either in or out of the
jurisdiction of the court, intestate, leaving property within the
jurisdiction, the court may order and empower the public trustee and
guardian to collect and administer the estate, both real and personal,
of that person.
(2) The order is valid until revoked, and empowers the public trustee and
guardian to—
(a) collect, manage, and administer the personal estate of the
supposed deceased person; and
(b) enter on and receive the rents and profits and otherwise manage
the real estate; and
(c) pay and discharge the debts and liabilities of that person;
in like way as if he or she were certainly dead and the public trustee
and guardian had obtained an order to collect and administer the
estate of the person under section 88.
(3) The public trustee and guardian must not proceed to any distribution
of the assets without an order of the Supreme Court specially
authorising the public trustee and guardian to make the distribution.
93
Notice of order to be published
93 Notice of order to be published
Within 1 month after any order to collect and administer has been
granted, the public trustee and guardian must, unless the Supreme
Court otherwise orders, twice give public notice of the fact that the
order has been granted.
Note Public notice means notice on an ACT government website or in a daily
newspaper circulating in the ACT (see Legislation Act, dict, pt 1).
95
Supreme Court orders against public trustee and
95 Supreme Court orders against public trustee and
(a) the public trustee and guardian has the responsibility of
collecting and administering a deceased estate; and
(b) the public trustee and guardian or the curator of estates of
deceased persons has—
(i) neglected or refused to do any act in relation to the
administration of the estate; or
(ii) acted, or threatened to act, in breach of his or her duty in
relation to the administration of the estate.
(2) If this section applies, a person interested in an estate referred to in
subsection (1) may apply to the Supreme Court—
(a) for an order calling on the public trustee and guardian to show
cause before the court why the public trustee and guardian
should act, or fail to act, in the way complained of; or
(b) for an interim injunction.
(3) On application under subsection (2), the Supreme Court may grant an
order or interim injunction subject to any conditions about giving
security for costs the court considers appropriate.
96
Orders on complaints under s 95
96 Orders on complaints under s 95
(1) On the hearing of a complaint under section 95, the Supreme Court
may make any order that it considers just.
(2) To remove any doubt, an order under subsection (1) has effect, and
may be enforced, as if it had been made by the Supreme Court in a
proceeding between the parties to the complaint.
97
Public trustee and guardian to act as Supreme Court
97 Public trustee and guardian to act as Supreme Court
directs
If an order to collect and administer is made under this part, the
Supreme Court may, on the application of the public trustee and
guardian or any person interested in the estate, make any orders about
the collection, sale, investment, and disposal of the estate, that the
court considers appropriate.
97A
Public trustee and guardian may obtain directions of
97A Public trustee and guardian may obtain directions of
Supreme Court
(1) The public trustee and guardian may, ex parte, take the opinion or
obtain the direction of the Supreme Court on any question, whether
of law or of fact, arising under this part, or in the course of his or her
duties.
(2) The Supreme Court must give its opinion or direction to the public
trustee and guardian, and the public trustee and guardian must act in
accordance with its opinion or direction and must, on the request of
any person interested in the estate, communicate to the person the
effect of the opinion or direction.
98
Proceedings for estates administered by the public
98 Proceedings for estates administered by the public
trustee and guardian
(1) This section applies in relation to an estate administered by the public
trustee and guardian under this part.
(2) The following must be decided by the Supreme Court:
(a) all disputes and matters about the collection, management or
administration of the estate;
(b) all claims on the estate.
(3) However, if the Supreme Court considers that it should not decide a
matter mentioned in subsection (2), the Supreme Court may direct
that other proceedings to decide the matter be begun.
101
Accounts to be kept etc
101 Accounts to be kept etc
The public trustee and guardian must—
(a) make an inventory or list of all the estates of the persons that the
public trustee and guardian has been ordered to collect and
administer and keep it in his or her office; and
(c) keep all letters received, and copies of all letters written by the
public trustee and guardian, and all deeds, papers, and writings
of and relating to those estates.
102
Receipt of public trustee and guardian sufficient
102 Receipt of public trustee and guardian sufficient
discharge
The written receipt of the public trustee and guardian for any money
payable to the public trustee and guardian under this part is a
sufficient discharge for the money to the person paying it, and the
person is not afterwards liable for any misapplication of the money.
126
People entitled to inspect will of deceased person
126 People entitled to inspect will of deceased person
(1) A person who has possession or control of a deceased person’s will
must, on request in writing by an interested person, allow the
interested person to inspect, or be given copies of, the will or any
copies of the will in the person’s possession or control.
(2) The interested person must bear any cost of a request under
subsection (1).
interested person, in relation to a deceased person’s will, means any
of the following:
(a) a person named or referred to in the will, including a person who
is a beneficiary under the will;
(b) a person named in an earlier will as a beneficiary under the will;
(c) a domestic partner or child of the deceased person;
Note Domestic partner—see the Legislation Act, s 169.
(d) a parent or guardian of the deceased person;
(e) a parent or guardian of a person younger than 18 years old who
is a beneficiary under the will;
(f) a parent or guardian of a person younger than 18 years old who
would be entitled to a share of the estate if the deceased person
had died intestate;
(g) a person who would be entitled to a share of the estate if the
deceased person had died intestate;
(h) a person who, immediately before the death of the deceased
person, was a guardian or manager for the person under the
Guardianship and Management of Property Act 1991;
Miscellaneous Part 9
(i) an attorney under an enduring power of attorney made by the
deceased person;
(j) a person prescribed by regulation.
will includes a revoked will, an informal will or a codicil.
127
Person fraudulently disposing of will liable for damages
127 Person fraudulently disposing of will liable for damages
If a person suffers damage as a result of the stealing of a will or a part
of a will, or as a result of the fraudulent destroying, cancelling,
obliterating or concealing of a will or a part of a will, the person may
recover damages in relation to the damage by action in a court of
competent jurisdiction from the person who stole, destroyed,
cancelled, obliterated or concealed the will or part.
128
Application of amendments made by Administration and
128 Application of amendments made by Administration and
Probate (Amendment) Act 1996
The following provisions as amended or inserted by the
Administration and Probate (Amendment) Act 1996 (and any other
consequential amendments made by that Act, schedule) apply only in
relation to the distribution of the estates of people who die on or after
1 May 1996:
(a) section 12;
(b) section 22;
(c) part 3A heading;
(d) division 3A.1 heading;
(e) section 44;
(f) division 3A.2 heading;
(g) section 45A;
(h) section 49BA;
(i) paragraphs 49D (3) (a) and (b);
(j) division 3A.3 heading;
(k) parts 3B and 3C headings;
(l) section 65;
(m) section 69;
(n) section 95;
(o) schedule 6.
129
Regulation-making power
129 Regulation-making power
The Executive may make regulations for this Act.
Order of application of assets if estate solvent Part 4.1
(see s 41C)
Part 4.1 Order of application of assets if
estate solvent
1 Assets undisposed of by will, subject to the retention out of those
assets of a fund sufficient to meet any pecuniary legacies.
2 Assets not specifically disposed of by will but included (either by a
specific or general description) in a residuary gift, subject to the
retention out of those assets of a fund sufficient to meet any pecuniary
legacies that are not provided for out of the assets undisposed of by
will.
3 Assets specifically appropriated or disposed of by will (either by a
specific or general description) for the payment of debts.
4 Assets charged with, or disposed of by will (either by a specific or
general description) subject to a charge for, the payment of debts.
5 The fund (if any) kept to meet pecuniary legacies.
6 Assets specifically disposed of by will, rateably according to value.
Part 4.2 Rules about payment of debts and liabilities if estate insolvent
Part 4.2 Rules about payment of debts
and liabilities if estate insolvent
1 The funeral, testamentary and administration expenses have priority.
2 Subject to rule 1, the same rules must prevail and must be observed
about the respective rights of secured and unsecured creditors and as
to the valuation of annuities and future and contingent liabilities,
respectively, and about the priorities of debts and liabilities that are
in force at the death of the deceased person under the law of
bankruptcy in relation to the assets of persons adjudged bankrupt.
3 In the application of those rules, the date of the death of the deceased
person must be substituted for the date of the sequestration order.
Distribution of intestate estate on intestacy Schedule 6
Distribution of estate if intestate survived by partner Part 6.1
Sch 6
Distribution of intestate estate
Schedule 6 Distribution of intestate estate
on intestacy
(See s 49)
Part 6
1 Distribution of estate if intestate
Part 6.1 Distribution of estate if intestate
survived by partner
1 if the intestate is not
The partner is entitled to the whole of the
2 if the intestate is
1 If the value of the intestate estate does
not exceed $200 000, the partner is
entitled to the whole of the intestate
2 If the value of the intestate estate
exceeds $200 000, the partner is
entitled to be paid out of the intestate
estate—
(a) $200 000; and
(b) interest on that sum, calculated
at the rate of 8% per annum from
the date of the death of the
intestate to the date that sum is
paid or appropriated to the
partner (inclusive); and
Schedule 6 Distribution of intestate estate on intestacy
Part 6.1 Distribution of estate if intestate survived by partner
(c) an additional sum equal to—
(i) if 1 child or the issue of
1 child of the intestate
survives the intestate but
no other issue of the
intestate survives the
intestate—1/2 of the value
of the balance of the
intestate estate; or
(ii) in any other case—1/3 of
the value of the balance of
the intestate estate.
3 The issue of the intestate are entitled
to the balance (if any) of the intestate
estate after payment to the partner of
the sum or sums to which the partner
is entitled under this item.
Distribution of intestate estate on intestacy Schedule 6
Distribution of estate if intestate not survived by partner Part 6.2
Part 6.2 Distribution of estate if intestate
not survived by partner
1 if the intestate is
the issue are entitled to the whole of the
2 if the intestate is not
survived by issue but is
survived by a parent or
both parents
the parent is entitled to the whole of the
intestate estate or, if both parents survive
the intestate, the parents are entitled to
the whole of the intestate estate in equal
shares.
3 if the intestate is not
survived by issue or by
a parent but is survived
by next of kin
the next of kin are entitled to the
intestate estate in accordance with
section 49C.
4 if the intestate is not
survived by issue, by a
parent or by next of kin
the Territory is entitled to the intestate
(see s 2)
Note 1 The Legislation Act contains definitions and other provisions relevant to
this Act.
Note 2 For example, the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1, defines the following terms:
• ACT
• civil partner
• civil union
• civil union partner
• Commonwealth country
• domestic partner (see s 169 (1))
• foreign country
• land
• public trustee and guardian
• State
• Supreme Court.
administration includes all letters of administration of the real and
personal estate of deceased persons whether with or without the will
annexed and whether granted for general, special, or limited
purposes, exemplification of letters of administration and any other
formal evidence of the letters of administration purporting to be under
the seal of a court of competent jurisdiction that is in the opinion of
the Supreme Court sufficient.
administration bond means a bond or guarantee, with or without
sureties, prescribed under the rules.
administrator includes any person to whom administration is granted.
distribute means to pay, deliver, or divide the estate or property
referred to, to or among the person or persons entitled under any
intestacy or under any will.
dwelling house, for division 3A.3 (Rights of partners to intestate
dwelling houses)—see section 49F.
election means an election to administer the estate or a part of the
estate of a deceased person.
eligible partner, of an intestate, for part 3A (Intestacy)—see
section 44.
intestate, for part 3A (Intestacy)—see section 44.
intestate estate, in relation to an intestate, for part 3A (Intestacy)—
see section 44.
original executor, for division 3.4 (Position of executor of an
executor)—see section 43A.
partner, for part 3A (Intestacy)—see section 44.
personal chattels, in relation to an intestate, for part 3A (Intestacy)—
see section 44.
personal representative, in relation to an intestate, for part 3A
(Intestacy)—see section 44.
prescribed means prescribed by rules.
probate includes exemplification of probate or any other formal
document, purporting to be under the seal of a court of competent
jurisdiction, that, in the opinion of the Supreme Court, is sufficient.
public trustee, in relation to a foreign country, includes an officer of
the country who is entitled under a law of the country to apply, if a
deceased person has died intestate leaving no next of kin, to a court
for an order that authorises the officer to administer the estate of the
deceased person.
purposes of administration includes the payment in due course of
administration of the debts, funeral and testamentary expenses duties
and commission, and the costs, charges and expenses of the executor
or administrator, and any costs that may be ordered to be paid out of
the estate.
registrar means the registrar of the Supreme Court.
representation—
(a) for this Act generally—means the probate of a will and
administration; and
(b) in relation to an intestate, for division 3A.3 (Rights of partners
to intestate dwelling houses)—see section 49F.
rules mean rules under the Court Procedures Act 2004 that apply in
relation to the Supreme Court.
will includes a codicil.
About the endnotes 1
1 About the endnotes
Amending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the
amendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law
but are set out in the endnotes.
Not all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are
annotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be
obtained from the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office.
Uncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law. The details
of these laws are underlined in the legislation history. Uncommenced expiries are
underlined in the legislation history and amendment history.
If all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered
provisions gives details of previous and current numbering.
The endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.
2 Abbreviation key
A = Act NI = Notifiable instrument
AF = Approved form o = order
am = amended om = omitted/repealed
amdt = amendment ord = ordinance
AR = Assembly resolution orig = original
ch = chapter par = paragraph/subparagraph
CN = Commencement notice pres = present
def = definition prev = previous
DI = Disallowable instrument (prev...) = previously
dict = dictionary pt = part
disallowed = disallowed by the Legislative r = rule/subrule
Assembly reloc = relocated
div = division renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired R[X] = Republication No
Gaz = gazette RI = reissue
hdg = heading s = section/subsection
IA = Interpretation Act 1967 sch = schedule
ins = inserted/added sdiv = subdivision
LA = Legislation Act 2001 SL = Subordinate law
LR = legislation register sub = substituted
LRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996 underlining = whole or part not commenced
mod = modified/modification or to be expired
This Act was originally a Commonwealth ordinance—the Administration and
Probate Ordinance 1929 No 18 (Cwlth).
The Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth), s 34 (4)
converted most former Commonwealth ordinances in force in the ACT into ACT
enactments. This allowed the ACT Legislative Assembly to amend and repeal the
laws. This Act was converted into an ACT enactment on 1 July 1992 under the
Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth), s 34 (7).
As with most ordinances in force in the ACT, the name was changed from
Ordinance to Act by the Self-Government (Citation of Laws) Act 1989 A1989-21,
s 5 on its conversion to an ACT enactment on 1 July 1992.
Before 11 May 1989, ordinances commenced on their notification day unless
otherwise stated (see Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910 (Cwlth), s 12).
After 11 May 1989 and before 10 November 1999, Acts commenced on their
notification day unless otherwise stated (see Australian Capital Territory
(Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth) s 25).
Legislation before becoming Territory enactment
Administration and Probate Act 1929 A1929-18
notified 10 October 1929 (Cwlth Gaz 1929 No 95)
commenced 21 October 1929 (s 2)
as amended by
Administration and Probate Ordinance 1930 Ord1930-11
notified 25 July 1930 (Cwlth Gaz 1930 No 64)
commenced 25 July 1930 (see Seat of Government (Administration)
Administration and Probate Ordinance 1932 Ord1932-13
notified 28 April 1932 (Cwlth Gaz 1932 No 38)
commenced 28 April 1932 (see Seat of Government (Administration)
Administration and Probate Ordinance 1933 Ord1933-9
notified 4 May 1933 (Cwlth Gaz 1933 No 29)
commenced 4 May 1933 (see Seat of Government (Administration)
Administration and Probate Ordinance 1934 Ord1934-2
notified 8 February 1934 (Cwlth Gaz 1934 No 8)
commenced 8 February 1934 (see Seat of Government
Administration and Probate Ordinance (No 2) 1934 Ord1934-6
notified 22 March 1934 (Cwlth Gaz 1934 No 17)
commenced 22 March 1934 (see Seat of Government (Administration)
Administration and Probate Ordinance 1937 Ord1937-3
notified 18 March 1937 (Cwlth Gaz 1937 No 12)
commenced 18 March 1937 (see Seat of Government (Administration)
Administration and Probate Ordinance (No 2) 1937 Ord1937-13
notified 19 August 1937 (Cwlth Gaz 1937 No 46)
commenced 19 August 1937 (see Seat of Government (Administration)
Ordinances Revision Ordinance 1937 Ord1937-27 sch 2
notified 23 December 1937 (Cwlth Gaz 1937 No 75)
commenced 23 December 1937 (see Seat of Government
Ordinances Revision Ordinance 1938 Ord1938-35 sch 2
notified 15 December 1938 (Cwlth Gaz 1938 No 79)
commenced 15 December 1938 (see Seat of Government
Administration and Probate Ordinance 1943 Ord1943-7
notified 13 May 1943 (Cwlth Gaz 1943 No 102)
commenced 13 May 1943 (see Seat of Government (Administration)
Trustee Companies Ordinance 1947 Ord1947-15
notified 18 December 1947 (Cwlth Gaz 1947 No 241)
commenced 18 December 1947 (see Seat of Government
Administration and Probate Ordinance 1950 Ord1950-16
notified 21 December 1950 (Cwlth Gaz 1950 No 81)
commenced 21 December 1950 (see Seat of Government
Administration and Probate Ordinance 1953 Ord1953-5
notified 27 February 1953 (Cwlth Gaz 1953 No 12)
commenced 27 February 1953 (see Seat of Government
Administration and Probate Ordinance (No 2) 1953 Ord1954-2
notified 7 January 1954 (Cwlth Gaz 1954 No 1)
commenced 7 January 1954 (see Seat of Government (Administration)
Administration and Probate Ordinance 1960 Ord1960-6
notified 9 September 1960 (Cwlth Gaz 1960 No 63)
commenced 12 September 1960 (s 2)
Administration and Probate Ordinance 1965 Ord1965-20
notified 21 December 1965 (Cwlth Gaz 1965 No 101A)
commenced 1 January 1966 (s 2)
Administration and Probate Ordinance 1967 Ord1967-9 (as am by
Ord1967-23)
notified 18 May 1967 (Cwlth Gaz 1967 No 43)
s 1, s 2, s 7, s 10, s 12 commenced 18 May 1967 (s 2 (1))
remainder commenced 1 July 1967 (s 2 (2))
Administration and Probate Ordinance 1969 Ord1969-16
notified 14 August 1969 (Cwlth Gaz 1969 No 70)
commenced 1 September 1969 (s 2 and see Cwlth Gaz 1969 No 72)
Administration and Probate Ordinance 1970 Ord1970-25
notified 2 July 1970 (Cwlth Gaz 1970 No 53)
commenced 20 July 1970 (s 2 and Cwlth Gaz 1970 No 59)
Administration and Probate Ordinance 1974 Ord1974-27 (as am by
Ord1974-43)
notified 13 August 1974 (Cwlth Gaz 1974 No 66)
commenced 13 August 1974 (see Seat of Government (Administration)
Administration and Probate Ordinance (No 2) 1974 Ord1974-43 (as
am by Ord1974-47 sch 3)
notified 18 October 1974 (Cwlth Gaz 1974 No 84B but see Cwlth Gaz
1974
No 85C)
1974 No 85C)
commenced 18 October 1974 (see Seat of Government
Ordinances Revision (Age of Majority) Ordinance 1974 Ord1974-47
notified 24 October 1974 (Cwlth Gaz 1974 No 87A)
commenced 1 November 1974 (s 2)
Administration and Probate (Amendment) Ordinance 1976
Ord1976-53
notified 27 October 1976 (Cwlth Gaz 1976 No S190)
commenced 1 November 1976 (s 2)
Administration and Probate (Amendment) Ordinance 1980 Ord1980-8
notified 26 March 1980 (Cwlth Gaz 1980 No S63)
commenced 1 April 1980 (s 2 and Cwlth Gaz 1980 No S66)
Administration and Probate (Amendment) Ordinance 1984
Ord1984-67
notified 5 December 1984 (Cwlth Gaz 1984 No S515)
commenced 5 December 1984 (see Seat of Government
Public Trustee (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 1985
Ord1985-9
notified 8 March 1985 (Cwlth Gaz 1985 No S69)
commenced 28 October 1985 (s 2 and Cwlth Gaz 1985 No G42)
Administrative Arrangements (Consequential Amendments)
Ordinance 1988 Ord1988-17 sch 2
notified 22 April 1988 (Cwlth Gaz 1988 No S114)
commenced 22 April 1988 (see Seat of Government (Administration)
Administration and Probate (Amendment) Ordinance 1988
Ord1988-34
notified 6 July 1988 (Cwlth Gaz 1988 No GN24)
commenced 6 July 1988 (see Seat of Government (Administration)
Administration and Probate (Amendment) Ordinance 1989
Ord1989-17
notified 22 March 1989 (Cwlth Gaz 1989 No S100)
commenced 22 March 1989 (see Seat of Government (Administration)
Administration and Probate (Amendment) Ordinance (No 2) 1989
Ord1989-19
notified 22 March 1989 (Cwlth Gaz 1989 No S100)
commenced 24 March 1989 (s 2 and Cwlth Gaz 1989 No S101)
Self-Government (Consequential Amendments) Ordinance 1989
Ord1989-38 pt 2 div 1, sch 1
notified 10 May 1989 (Cwlth Gaz 1989 No S160)
s 1, s 2 commenced 10 May 1989 (s 2 (1))
pt 2 div 1, sch 1 commenced 11 May 1989 (s 2 (2) and see Australian
Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth), s 2 (2) and Cwlth
Gaz 1989 No S164)
Legislation after becoming Territory enactment
Administration and Probate (Amendment) Act 1991 A1991-20
notified 10 May 1991 (Gaz 1991 No S36)
commenced 10 May 1991 (see Australian Capital Territory
(Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth), s 25)
Administration and Probate (Amendment) Act (No 2) 1991 A1991-69
notified 7 November 1991 (Gaz 1991 No S120)
commenced 7 November 1991 (see Australian Capital Territory
(Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth), s 25)
Registrar-General (Consequential Provisions) Act 1993 A1993-64
notified 6 September 1993 (Gaz 1993 No S172)
s 1, s 2 commenced 6 September 1993 (s 2 (1))
sch 1 commenced 1 October 1993 (s 2 (2) and see Gaz 1993
No S207)
Supreme Court (Amendment) Act (No 2) 1993 A1993-91 sch 3
notified 17 December 1993 (Gaz 1993 No S258)
commenced 17 December 1993 (s 2)
Statutory Offices (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994 A1994-97 sch
pt 1
notified 15 December 1994 (Gaz 1994 No S280)
s 1, s 2 commenced 15 December 1994 (s 2 (1))
sch pt 1 commenced 15 December 1994 (s 2 (2) and Gaz 1994
No S293)
Land Titles (Consequential Amendments) Act 1995 A1995-54 sch pt 1
notified 20 December 1995 (Gaz 1995 No S313)
commenced 20 June 1996 (s 2, see Land Titles (Amendment) Act
1995
A1995-53 s 2 (3) and LA s 79)
1995 A1995-53 s 2 (3) and LA s 79)
Administration and Probate (Amendment) Act 1996 A1996-15
notified 1 May 1996 (Gaz 1996 No S71)
commenced 1 May 1996 (s 2)
Legal Practitioners (Consequential Amendments) Act 1997 A1997-96
notified 1 December 1997 (Gaz 1997 No S380)
s 1, s 2 commenced 1 December 1997 (s 2 (1))
sch 1 commenced 1 June 1998 (s 2 (2))
Birth (Equality of Status) (Amendment) Act 1998 A1998-42
notified 14 October 1998 (Gaz 1998 No 41)
ss 1-3 commenced 14 October 1998 (s 2 (1))
remainder commenced 14 April 1999 (s 2 (3))
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1999 A1999-66 sch 3
notified 10 November 1999 (Gaz 1999 No 45)
commenced 10 November 1999 (s 2)
Statute Law Amendment Act 2000 A2000-80 sch 3
notified 21 December 2000 (Gaz 2000 No S69)
commenced 21 December 2000 (s 2 (1))
Legislation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 A2001-44 pt 3
notified 26 July 2001 (Gaz 2001 No 30)
s 1, s 2 commenced 26 July 2001 (IA s 10B)
pt 3 commenced 12 September 2001 (s 2 and see Gaz 2001 No S65)
Statute Law Amendment Act 2001 (No 2) 2001 No 56 pt 3.1
notified 5 September 2001 (Gaz 2001 No S65)
commenced 5 September 2001 (s 2 (1))
Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2002
A2002-27 pt 2
notified LR 9 September 2002
s 1, s 2 commenced 9 September 2002 (LA s 75)
pt 2 commenced 10 September 2002 (s 2)
Civil Law (Wrongs) Act 2002 A2002-40 div 3.2.1
notified LR 10 October 2002
s 1, s 2 commenced 10 October 2002 (LA s 75 (1))
div 3.2.1 commenced 1 November 2002 (s 2 (2) and CN2002-13)
Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2003
A2003-2 pt 2
notified LR 3 March 2003
s 1, s 2 commenced 3 March 2003 (LA s 75 (1))
pt 6, pt 7, pt 11, pt 15 commenced 4 March 2003
pt 2 commenced 31 March 2003 (s 2 (2))
Parentage Act 2004 A2004-1 sch 1 pt 1.1
notified LR 18 February 2004
s 1, s 2 commenced 18 February 2004 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.1 commenced 22 March 2004 (s 2 and CN2004-3)
Sexuality Discrimination Legislation Amendment Act 2004 A2004-2
sch 1 pt 1.1
notified LR 18 February 2004
s 1, s 2 commenced 18 February 2004 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.1 commenced 22 March 2004 (s 2 and CN2004-4)
Court Procedures (Consequential Amendments) Act 2004 A2004-60
sch 1 pt 1.1
notified LR 2 September 2004
s 1, s 2 commenced 2 September 2004 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.1 commenced 10 January 2005 (s 2 and see Court
Procedures Act 2004 A2004-59, s 2 and CN2004-29)
Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2005
(No 4) A2005-60 sch 1 pt 1.1
notified LR 1 December 2005
s 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 23 November 2005 (LA s 75 (2))
sch 1 pt 1.1 commenced 22 December 2005 (s 2 (4))
Civil Unions Act 2006 A2006-22 sch 1 pt 1.1
notified LR 19 May 2006
s 1, s 2 commenced 19 May 2006 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.1 never commenced
Note Act repealed by disallowance 14 June 2006 (see Cwlth
Gaz 2006 No S93)
Civil Law (Property) Act 2006 A2006-38 sch 1 pt 1.1
notified LR 28 September 2006
s 1, s 2 commenced 28 September 2006 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.1 commenced 28 March 2007 (s 2 and LA s 79)
Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2006
A2006-40 sch 2 pt 2.1
notified LR 28 September 2006
s 1, s 2 commenced 28 September 2006 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 2 pt 2.1 commenced 29 September 2006 (s 2 (1))
Statute Law Amendment Act 2007 A2007-3 sch 3 pt 3.2
notified LR 22 March 2007
s 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 1 July 2006 (LA s 75 (2))
sch 3 pt 3.2 commenced 12 April 2007 (s 2 (1))
Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2008
A2008-7 sch 1 pt 1.1
notified LR 16 April 2008
s 1, s 2 commenced 16 April 2008 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.1 commenced 7 May 2008 (s 2)
Civil Partnerships Act 2008 A2008-14 sch 1 pt 1.1
notified LR 15 May 2008
s 1, s 2 commenced 15 May 2008 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.1 commenced 19 May 2008 (s 2 and CN2008-8)
Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act
2008 (No 2) A2008-22 sch 1 pt 1.1
notified LR 8 July 2008
s 1, s 2 commenced 8 July 2008 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.1 commenced 29 July 2008 (s 2)
Act 2008 (No 3) A2008-29 sch 1 pt 1.1
notified LR 13 August 2008
s 1, s 2 commenced 13 August 2008 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.1 commenced 27 August 2008 (s 2)
Evidence (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011 A2011-48 sch 1
pt 1.1
notified LR 22 November 2011
s 1, s 2 commenced 22 November 2011 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.1 commenced 1 March 2012 (s 2 (1) and see Evidence Act
2011
A2011-12, s 2 and CN2012-4)
2011 A2011-12, s 2 and CN2012-4)
Civil Unions Act 2012 A2012-40 sch 3 pt 3.1
notified LR 4 September 2012
s 1, s 2 commenced 4 September 2012 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 3 pt 3.1 commenced 11 September 2012 (s 2)
Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2014
(No 2) A2014-49 pt 2
notified LR 10 November 2014
s 1, s 2 commenced 10 November 2014 (LA s 75 (1))
pt 2 commenced 17 November 2014 (s 2)
Red Tape Reduction Legislation Amendment Act 2015 A2015-33
sch 1 pt 1.3
notified LR 30 September 2015
s 1, s 2 commenced 30 September 2015 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.3 commenced 14 October 2015 (s 2)
Protection of Rights (Services) Legislation Amendment Act 2016
(No 2) A2016-13 sch 1 pt 1.1
notified LR 16 March 2016
s 1, s 2 commenced 16 March 2016 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.1 commenced 1 April 2016 (s 2 and see Protection of Rights
(Services) Legislation Amendment Act 2016 A2016-1 s 2)
Land Titles (Electronic Conveyancing) Legislation Amendment Act
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