ADMlNlSTRA TOR-GENERAL
THE ADMINISTRATOR-GENERAL’S ACT
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
1. short title.
2. Interpntatim.
Appointment of Oficers
3. Administrator-General.
4. Restrictioas on Administrator-General.
5. Deputy Administrator-GeneraL
6. Functions, pmers and dutiea of Deputy Mminiskator-Gencd
7. As to ot?ice.
8. Administrator-General an o h r of the Supreme Court.
9. Duties as to keeping amunts.
10. special atattments.
1 1. Keeping of funds.
Administration
12. Whcn Administrator-General entitled to administration.
13. Timc for application.
1 3 ~ . Administrtion where 110 mim~ tenwfichies.
14. Costs on moation of administration.
15. Administration p d g s by him. Same as in other cases
16. Vesting of pmperty.
17. Appointing Administrator-General executor of will
18. Noadministra t iw bond or oath of offiioe required from him.
19. Duty to return invtntorieS and administer estate vested m him.
20. Letters of admmistmtion, etc. granted to him by Supreme Court
21. Rights, duties, powers and liabilities of Administrator-GQleial.
22. Duty of Collectars to report deaths.
23. Jurisdiction of Court before or pending pmcecdings for admini-
dration. . . .
B A . EX0lCkOb d p c n v a r P * bDmd -.
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2 ADMINISTRA TOR-GENERAL
2 3 ~ . Vesting of pmperty by c d e ~ of Court.
Trusts
24. Power to appoint him a trustee or guardian.
25. Or committee of a lunatic.
26. Prohibition against acting with others.
27. When not bound to act as guardian or committee.
28. Not to be appointed guardian or committee ad litem. etc.
29. To be appointed receiver.
30. Rights, duties. powers and liabilities as trustee. guardian.
committee or receiver.
31. Consent of Administrator-GeneraI in optional cases
32. Duties in all other cases.
Leg& Proceedings
33. How he is to sue and be. sued.
34. How process ssrved on him.
35. Judgments. etc., in proceedings by or agahsl him.
36. Execution against him.
37. Power to submit to the Supreme Court questions of doubt.
39. Power to apply for the opinion and direction of the Court
40. RelieP from pemd cqmnsibility.
41. Power to apply to Court against him.
42. Winding up estates vested in him.
43. Power of Court in making orders.
44. Power of Court to make general O&K under this Act.
45. Change of Administrator-General and vesting of estates. and
46. Administering by the Court of estates, etc., vested in him.
47, Powers of Judge in Chambers.
48. Charges fof
3 6 ~ . Payment cat of Cmdidated Fund.
38. suing or ddendii in fornaa pauperis.
continuing of proceediogs thema
. deaate3.
Miscelloneour Provisions
4 9 . M remuneration other than salary to be. f i d into tha
. .
Consolidated Fund
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ADMINISTRATOR-GENERAL
50. Remuneration as receiver or co-trustee. co-guardian. or co-
51. Government to provide office, clerks and expenses of performing
52. Reimbursement of expenses.
53. Administration of assets of deceased in the hands of the
committee.
duties of office.
Government.
5% A d m j m W Of d ew.
54. Power to employ Clerk of Resideat Magistrate’s Court and other
S5. Conveyances. etc.. to which Administrator-General a party.
56. Books prima faeie evidence.
57. Authenticated copies of entries therein evidence.
58. Proof of signature of Administrator-General.
59. When books producible in evidence.
60. ReguMom
agents.
* D W
3
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A DMINISTRA TOR-GENERA L 5
C.C. 1.
L.m
1s of 1151.
41 or 1-
THE ADMINISTRATOR-GENERAL‘S ACT Aca
mscq
30 ol mi,
7 or 1%
m H m .
1. This Act may be cited as the Administrator-General’s short tit*.
t26rh August, 1873.1
Act.
2. In this Act- hlcrprt..
tion “estate” includes the estate of every deceased person which
has vested in the Administrator-General, or which he
is entitled to have vested in him as administrator or
executor under this Act;
“prescribed” means prescribed by rules of court;
“trust” includes every guardianship, committeeship, or
receivership, vested in the Administrator-General under
this Act, and all property vested in the Administrator-
General as trustee under this Act, and all property
administered by him under this Act.
Appointment of Officers
3. The Governor-General may appoint a fit and proper
Un-Genml
42/1%9
3rd sfb
person to be Administrator-General for Jamaica.
4. The Administrator-General shall not directly or ~ ~ l t r i n i ~ ~
m Adndnic indirectly practise in any profession, or carry on any trade
or busine-ss or hold any office or place of profit in any cor-
poration or joint stock company; but th is shall not apply
to a person appointed to act temporarily as Administrator-
General. This section shall not prevent the appointment
of the Administrator-General to any other office in the
public service, nor the appointment as Administrator-
General of a person holding another such office, which the
Minister may think that the Administrator-Genera1 can
IThe inckmion of his p g e is authorized by L.N. 3/2001]
6 ADMINISTRATOR-GENERAL
properly hold together with the office of Administrator-
General.
Deputy 5. The Governor-General may appoint a fit and proper
Administra- ,or-Gon nl, person to be Deputy Administrator-General.
4211969
3rd Sch.
puctiom, 6. The Deputy Administrator-General shall have and
X",::$d exercise such functions, powers and duties pertaining to
D ~ P W the office of Administrator-General as the Minister may
tor-Gcnernl. from time to time direct, and as the Administrator-Genera1
may on any particular occasion or for any particular purpose
direct.
Adrninisba-
~ ~ t ~ ~ f f i c e . 7. The office of the Administrator-General shall be in
such place in Kingston as the Minister may approve, and
the Administrator-General shall attend at such office, and
such office shall be open during such times as shall be
prescribed.
Mminisua- 8. The Administrator-General shall be deemed to be an
tor-General
the Sunreme
anofficer of officer of, and an accounting party to the Supreme Court.
court:
Duties as to
saoun~.
9. The Administrator-General shall keep a full, complete,
and accurate account of all transactions with respect to all
estates and trusts vested in or administered by him; and shall
keep all such books as may be necessary for that purpose.
Such books shall be kept at the office of the Administrator-
General, and shall be open for the inspection of all persons,
on payment of the fees mentioned in the Schedule. All
persons who shall apply for copies or extracts from any of
the books shall be entitled to have the same on payment ot
the fees mentioned in the Schedule. Rules of court may
from time to time be made prescribing in what manner the
accounts, books, and documents of the Administrator-
General shall be kept, and generally how the office shall
keepins
schedule.
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ADMINISTRATOR-GENERAL 7
be regulated, and at what times, and in what manner, and
subject to what, if any, conditions searches in the books of
the Administrator-General may be made, and copies or
extracts from the same obtained.
upon by the Supreme Court so to do, furnish complete and
accurate statements and accounts, either with respect to
any particular estate or trusts vested in or administered by
him under this Act, or with respect to the whole business
of the Administrator-General under this Act; and it shall
be lawful for the Supreme Court at any time, to have the
books of the Administrator-General examined, without the
payment of any fee, by any person named by the Minister
for that purpose.
the Administrator-General in that capacity shall forthwith , of
10. The Administrator-General shall, whenever called specid
ataicancnt..
11.41) All sums of money from time to time raceived by K e w i r a
of funds.
s 2c.r or within such time as may be prescribed-
(U) be paid by him into a commercial bank or a speci-
fied financial institution to the credit of an account
to be entitled “Administrator-General’s Account”;
or
(b) be invested by him in securities issued by the Gov-
ernment of Jamaica.
(2) Interest shall be allowed on such money in the W19W
9. 2 same way as interest is allowed on deposits by executors,
administrators and trustees under the Trustees, Attorneys
and Executors (Accounts and General) Act, except that
there shall be no limit of amount.
of the due administration of any estate or trust-
(3) The Administrator-General may, for the purposes 7 of 1%
s. z w
(U) withdraw from the commercial bank or a specified
hancial institution referred to in subsection (1) any
money standing to the credit of the Administrator-
General‘s Account; or
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8 ADMINISTRATOR-GENERAL
(b) sell any securities purchased pursuant to subsection
(1) (b),
and until any money so withdrawn or derived from the
sale of any securities, as the case may be, is applied to such
purposes as aforesaid the Administrator-General shall, sub-
ject to any order of a court of competent jurisdiction, deal
with such money in accordance with such general or special
directions as may be given by the Minister:
Provided always that the Administrator-General shall
never expend the money of one trust or estate for the
purposes of another trust or estate.
Administration
When 12. The Administrator-General shall be entitled to, and
tor.General it shall be his duty to apply for, letters of administration
cntltled to to the estates of all persons who shall die intestate without
lion. leaving a widower, widow, brother, sister, or any lineal
ancestor or descendant, or leaving any such relative if no
such relative shall take out letters of administration within
three months, or within such longer or shorter time as the
Court to which application for administration is made, or
the Judge thereof may direct; and also to the estates of all
persons who shall die leaving a will but leaving no executor,
or no executor who will act, if no such relative as aforesaid
of such deceased shall, within the time aforesaid, take out
letters of administration to his estate. The Administrator-
General shall be entitled to such letters of administration in
all cases in which, if this Act had not been passed, letters of
administration to the estates of such persons might have been
granted to any administrator :
Provided that this section shall not apply to the estates
of deceased persons for the administration of whose estates
provision is made by law, nor to estates where the total
vdue of the personal property does not exceed five thousand
Adminima-
administra-
W1m1
s. z
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ADMINISTR ATOR-GENERAL
dollars, but it shall be lawful to appoint the Administrator-
General, with his consent, administrator of any estate, not-
withstanding that the total value of the personal property
does not exceed five thousand dollars. 301 I991
s. 2.
13. h cases falling within the preceding section, it shall Timefor
application. be lawful for the Administrator-General to apply for letters
of administration to any deceased person’s estate within
three months after the death of such person, if it appears
likely that no other person will take out letters of
administration to such estate, and that injury to the estate
is likely to result from delay in obtaining administration
to the estate. On any such application the Court may give
such decision as it thinks fit.
13A.41) Where it appears to the Administrator-General ~dmiaistra-
lion where
ben&-
28/1999 s. 2.
that- no olimr
fa) there is no minor among the persons having an ciaria.
interest in the estate of a deceased, and
(b) although there are adult beneficiaries equally
entitled to obtain letters of administration, there
is disagreement as to which of them should apply
for such grant,
the Administrator-General may, by notice in writing to
such beneficiaries, inform them of their right to apply to
the Court for an mder naming any of them or a thid party,
as the case may require, as the persvn who should apply
for letters of administration.
(2) The Court may, on application by any of the
beneficiaries, grant an order referred to in subsection (1).
14. If any letters of administration, granted to the coauon
Administrator-General are revoked, he shall not be adjudged of
to pay any of the costs of such revocation, unless the Court
shall be satisfied that he acted improperly in obtaining such
rcvoution
9
~~
administration, or in opposing the revocation thereof.
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10 ADMINISTRAI’OR-GENERA t
Administra-
Iion pro-
ceedings by
him, same
8% in other
CaScI.
vestiog oi
property.
Appointing
Adminislra-
lor-General
eGAtor
of will.
15. Letters of administration to the Administrator-
General shall, subject to this Act, be gmnted on the like
occasions, to the same extent, on the payment of the same
fees and duties, and in the same way, as letters of admini-
stration would have been granted if this Act had not been
passed, and all proceedings to obtain or to oppose such
administration, or otherwise in any way relating to such
administration, shall, subject only to the provisions of this
Act, be the same as if this Act had nat been passed.
16. On the grant of letters of administration to the
Administrator-General, the property of the deceased shall
vest in the Administrator-General, and be assets in his hands
for the payment of the debts and liabilities of the deceased,
in the same way, and to the same extent in all respects, as
such property would have vested in and been assets in the
hands of any other administrator, if this Act had not been
passed, and the Administrator-General shall discharge the
debts and liabilities of the deceased, and shall distribute the
surplus, in the same way, and in the same order of priority,
and to the same extent, that any other administrator would
have been bound to discharge such debts and liabilities, and
to distribute such surplus, if this Act had not been passed.
17. It shall be lawful for any testator to appoint the
Administrator-General the sole executor of his will. The
Administrator-General shall not act as co-executor with
any other person, and if any testator shall appoint any
person as co-executor with the Administrator-General, the
appointment of such person shall be void, and the
Administrator-General shall be the sole executor:
Provided, that it shall be lawful for any testator to
appoint the Administrator-General the sole executor in
substitution for any other executor in the event of such
executor dying, or neglecting, refusing, or becoming
incapable to act as such executor.
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ADMINISTRATOR-GENERAL 11
18. It shall not be necessary for the Administrator- Nopdminis-
tration bond General, on taking out letters of administration, or on oroathof
proving any will, to file any declaration of the value of the
property, or to give any administration bond, or will bond, hornhim.
or to take any oath to bring into the Registry of the Supreme
Court an inventory of the estate of the deceased, or to take
any oath duly to administer such estate.
19, It shall be the duty of the Administrator-General Dutyto
to make, as soon as possible after obtaining letters of
administration or letters testamentary to any estate, a true :&nistcc
and perfect inventory of all the personal property of the ; kyd
deceased person, with an appraisement thereof, and to
return the same so made into the Registry of the Supreme
Court; and it shall also be the duty of the Adminiitrator-
General well and truly to administer the estates of deceased
persons vested in him.
r c i m in-
20. Letters of administration and letters testamentary Laicnof
shall be granted by the Supreme Court to the Administrator- tion,etc..
General, according to the practice of the Supreme Court, Kgst0
and shall be granted by the Resident Magistrates' Courts in &?m*
the same way, as nearly as may be, as such letters of
administration and letters testamentary would be granted
to any other executor or administrator. Such letters of
administration and letters testamentary shall bear the stamp
to which they would have been liable if granted to a private
person.
adminiatra-
21. Subject to th is Act, the rights, duties, powers, and Right&
liabilities of the Administrator-General, in applying for and rF&and
obtaining letters of administration or letters testamentary, Administr8-
and in acting as administrator or executor, shall be the same tor-Gmcr8'~
in all respects as under similar circumstances the rights,
dutisa
iabihhw of
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12 ADMINISTRATOR-GENERAL
Duty a1
Collectors to
report
deaths.
Jurisdiction
of court
before or
pending
procccdinas
for admin.
istration
duties, powers, and liabilities of private persons applying for
and obtaining letters of administration or letters
testamentary, or acting as administrators or executors would
have been if this Act had not been passed.
22. It shall be the duty of the Collector of Taxes in each
parish to ascertain to the best of his ability, and to report
to the Administrator-General, the names of all persons who
shall die in the parish under such circumstances as to entitle
the Administrator-General to the administration of their
estates.
23. Whenever it appears to the Supreme Court that there
is good ground to believe that the Administrator-General
is, or is likely to become, entitled to the administration of
any estate, and that the property of such estate is likely
to be damaged or diminished for want of a proper person
to take charge thereof, before letters of administration or
letters testamentary can be taken out, or while it is doubtful
who will apply for and obtain letters of administration or
letters testamentary, it shall be lawful for the Supreme Court
to authorize the Administrator-General to take possession
of such property for such time, in such manner, and subject
to such conditions, if any, as the Court may direct. The
Administrator-General shall hold and deal with such
property as may be directed by the Court from time to time
until letters of administration or letters testamentary have
been granted. The Administrator-General shall not be
entitled to any commission in respect of such property
unless he ultimately obtains the administration thereof, but
he shall be entitled to be repaid out of such property all
costs and expenses to which he may be put in respect thereof,
and for applying to the Court if the Court thinks fit.
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ADMINISTRATORGENERAL 12.01
2 3 A . 4 1 ) This section applies to money or securities for E x ~ ~ k - o f
certain
cies, moneys owing to an estate m rental income (herein- prior to
tration. person. 2811999
s. 3.
money, including money in bank accounts, insurance poli- pwcrJ
arter called “the relevant assets”) in the estate of any deceased adminis-
(2) Where it is the duty of the Administrator-
General to apply for letters of administration in relation
to any estate he may exercise any of the powers specified
in subsection (3) prior to the grant of letters of administra-
tion in relation to such estate.
(3) The powers exeuisable by the Administrator-
(a) to clollect the relevant assets, obtain advances thcre-
from and otherwise deal with the relevant assets;
and
General under this section shall te-
(b) to make payments out of the relevant assets-
(i) to meet the oosts and expenses connected
with obtaining ,the grant of letters of admin-
istration;
(ii) for the advancement or benefit of any
beneficiary.
V d I l g d
!mm=w
by order
(a) the Administrator-Genera1 has obtained letkm of ofoourt.
2811999 administration in relation to an estate; and s. 3.
23B. Where-
(6) property is to be distributed among the benefici-
aries of that estate: and
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12.02 ADMINISTRA TORGENERAL
(c) the Admbistrator-Ceneral is unable to obtain the
signatures of those beneficiaries or any of them in
order to effect such distribution,
the Administmtor-General may apply to the Count for an
order directing that the property be vested in the beneficiaries.
Trusts
24. It shall be lawful for the Supreme Court, and for any
person or corporation, to appoint the Administrator-General
trustee of any real or personal property, or, subject to
sections 27 and 28, to appoint him guardian of any infant,
on the like occasions, in the same way, and to the m e
extent, that any other person might be appointed such
trustee or guardian.
P O F to
I trustso
ippomt him
or cam-
lunatic.
25. The Administrator-General may be appointed, but
it shall not be compulsory to appoint him committee of the
estate of any idiot or lunatic, or committee of the estate and
person of any idiot or lunatic, but he shall not be appointed
committee of the person only of an idiot or lunatic, except
with his own consent.
mitlee of a
Prohibition 26. The Administrator-General shall not act as co-trustee,
yainat
.etingwith co-guardian, or co-committee, with any one, except on the
appointment of the Supreme Court. If any one (except as
aforesaid) shall appoint any person to act with the
Administrator-General as co-trustee, co-guardian, or CO-
committee, the appointment of such person shall be void,
and the Administrator-General shall be the sole trustee,
guardian, or committee :
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ADMINISTRATOR-GENERAL
Provided, that it shall be lawful for any person to appoint
the Administrator-General the sole trustee, guardian, or
committee, in substitution for any other trustee, guardian,
or committee in the event of such other trustee, guardian,
or committee dying, or neglecting, refusing, or becoming
incapable to act.
13
27. The Administrator-General shall not (except with 2+'h;tacl
his own consent) act as guardian of any infant, or as srrguprdilo
committee of any idiot or lunatic, unless such infant, idiot, oommittec.
or lunatic has property to the amount of one thousand s,3,
dollars, and all the property of such infant, idiot or lunatic
is vested in the Administrator-General as trustee for such
infant, idiot, or lunatic, or the Administrator-General is
invested with the entire administration of such property.
or
30181991
28. The Administrator-General shall not (except with ~ o i t o b o
his own consent) be appointed guardian or committee ad guardianor
[item, or for any other similar temporary purpose of an 2;:;
infant, idiot, or lunatic. etc.
appointed
29. No person, except the Administrator-General shall ;;'tncd
be appointed receiver in any suit in the Supreme Court, TOCCIVCT.
unless it be proved to the satisfaction of the Court that it
would be more beneficial to the estate that some other
person should be appointed receiver.
30. Subject to this Act, the rights, duties, powers, and :i&
guardian, committee, or receiver, shall be the same in all U t m U S ~ ~ ,
respects as the rights, duties, powers, and Iiabilities of any v~z;;~~~
liabilities of the Administrator-General, acting as trustee, EE:"d
other trustee, guardian, committee, or receiver. rcoswcr.
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14 A DMINISTRA TOR-GENERAL
Conscnt of
Administra-
tor-General
in optional
c a m .
Dutied ia
nll other
caaea.
Hawhob
to sue and
be sued.
31. In any case in which the consent of the Administrator-
General is required, before he is bound to accept a trust or
to act under this Act, the giving or withholding such consent
shall be absolutely in the discretion of the Administrator-
General. In all such cases it shall be lawful for the
Administrator-General, with the sanction of the Supreme
Court, to agree with any person as to the remuneration (if
any) which the Administrator-General is to receive for
accepting and acting in the matter for which his consent is
required. Any such agreement made without such sanction
shall be void.
32. In all cases in which the consent of the Administrator-
General is not required, it shall be the duty of the
Administrator-General except as hereinafter mentioned, to
accept and forthwith to enter upon the duties of the
administration of any estate or trust to which he may be
appointed or entitled under this Act :
Provided, that it shall be lawful for the Supreme Court to
authorize the Administrator-General to refuse to take out
letters of administration or letters testamentary, or to accept
any trust, if, from the special circumstances of the case, it
shall appear to the Court that such authority ought to be
given.
Legal Proceedings
33. In all legal proceedings in respect of any estate or
trust vested in the Administrator-General, or in respect
of any act or omission of the Administrator-General, with
regard to such estate or trust, he shall sue and be sued as
“The Administrator-General, administrator (or executor)
of the estate (or of the Will) of A. B. deceased”, OT “trustee
of the marriage settlement of X and Y” (or otherwise ar
the case may be).
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A DMlNlSTRA TOR-GENERA L IS
34. Writs, plaints, summonses, notices, pleadings, process, HO;~CCM
and all other documents in any legal or other proceeding him.
by or against the Administrator-General, may be served by
being left at his office, and such service shall have the same
effect BS if it had been made personally.
35. All judgments, decrees, or orders, recovered or made Judmmfr.
in any legal proceeding by or against the Administrator- si"*,
General, shall be in the same form and subject to this Act, winat
shall have the same effect as such judgments, decrees, or him.
orders would have had under similar circumstances, if this
Act had not been passed, against a private person occupy-
ing, in relation to such proceedings, a position similar to
that of the Administrator-General.
36. No execution shall issue without the leave of the Execution
mina1 Supreme Court on any judgment, decree, or order against him.
the Administrator-General, but it shall be the duty of the
Administrator-General, unless an order is made under the
immediately following section, to pay forthwith the amount
of such judgment, decree, or order, and costs (if any) in
the same way, to the Same extent, that a private person,
under similar circumstances, would be bound to pay the
amount of such a judgment, decree, or order and mts:
Provided, that if a private person, under similar
circumstances, would be personally liable on such judgment,
decree, or order, and would be entitled to recoup himself
out of the estate or trust in respect of which it was recovered,
the Administrator-General may in the first instance pay the
amount of such judgment, decree, or order, and costs, out
of the estate or trust in respect of which it was recovered, to
the extent that such private person would be so entitled to
be recouped :
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16 ADMINISTRATOR-GENERAL
P O W 10
submit to
Ihc
Supreme
court
!oubt.
uwtioniot
Suing or
defending
in form0
p a u p e h .
And provided further, that it shall be lawful for the
Supreme Court, if it thinks that the justice of the case
requires it, to order that the amount for which such
judgment, decree, or order is obtained, or such part thereof
as the Coullt thinks fit, shall be paid by the Administmtor-
General personally, and not out of any trust or estate.
%A.--All sums required to discharge any liability which
the Admiaistmtor-General, if he were a private trustee,
would be personally liable to discharge, shall be charged
on and paid out of the O o ~ l i ~ t e d Fund, so, however,
that, neither the aollsolidated Fund nor the Administrator-
General shall be liable for any loss which would not have
im@ liability on a private trustee.
37. When a judgment, decree or order has been recovered
against the Administrator-General, and there are any
circumstances which render it doubtful whether he ought
to pay the amount thereof, or out of what funds he ought
to pay the amount thereof, he may apply to the Supreme
Court for an order authorizing him to pay, or to refuse to
pay, or directing out of what funds he should pay the amount
of such judgment, decree, or order.
38. It shall be lawful for the Supreme Court to authorize
the Administrator-General to sue or defend in forma
pauperis, in any case in which the Court thinks that the
Administrator-General ought so to sue or defend. An
order under this section shall authorize the Administrator-
General to sue or defend in such Court, and in such
proceeding, as may be specified in such order, and no Court
fees shall be payable by the Administrator-General in any
proceedings under such order : and the Supreme Court may
give such directions as it thinks fit to secure the repayment,
out of any property recovered or secured by such proceeding,
of all costs and charges of such proceedings.
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ADMlNlSTRA TOR-GENERAL 17
39. The Administrator-General may at any time apply Pomrto to the Supreme Court for the opinion, advice, or direction of oprmon a ply for and tho
dirsction of the Court or Judge respecting his rights or duties with
regard to applying for, or obtaining administration of any
estate, or trust, or probate of any will, or assuming the
management of any estate, or trust, or with regard to any
estate or trust vested in or administered by him under this
Act, or with regard to any matters arising out of the
management or conduct of any such estate or trust.
40. The Administrator-General, obtaining born f d e the EmynPE
opinion or direction of the Supreme Court, or of a Judge rponaibiitg.
thereof, or acting bum fide on such opinion or direction,
shall be deemed, so far as regards his own responsibility,
to have discharged his duty as administrator, executor,
trustee, guardian, committee, or receiver, with regard to the
estate or trust with respect to which such opinion or direction
was given.
41. [f the Administrator-General shall at any time F W W ~ ~
improperly negleot, refuse, or delay to apply for or tw obtain a”
the management of any estate or trust to which he has been
appointed, or if he shall improperly act, or omit ta act, in
the management of any estate or trust vested in or
administered by him, or the duties of which he shall have
entered upon, or if he shall improperly neglect, refuse, or
delay to pay forthwith the amount of any judgment, decree,
or order recovered against him, or if he shall pay the amount
of any such judgment, decree, or order out of any funds
not properly liable to such payment, or if he shall improperly
act, or omit to act, in any other matter with respect to any
estate or trust vested in or administered by him, or with
letters of administration, or to prove any will, or to assume him. WdMt
[The inclwion of this page is authorized by L!N. 3 / w O l ]
18 ADMINISTRATOR-GENERAL
respect to any duty imposed upon him by this Act, or if there
is reasonable ground to think that he is about improperly to
act, or to omit to act, with respect to any of the matters
aforesaid, any person interested in such estate, trust,
judgment, decree, order, or other matter, may apply to the
Supreme Court for an order, requiring the Adminiitrator-
General to do, or refrain from doing, the act in respect of
which such person complains, and the Court may thereupon
make such order as the Court thinks fit.
him.
P O W of
Court in
making
orders.
Power of
Qlmb
make
general
O M m
under
this Act
in or administered by the Administrator-General, is or ought
to be determined, the Administrator-General, or any person
interested in such estate or trust, may apply to the Supreme
Court for an order, declaring that the duties of the
Administrator-Genera1 with respect to such estate or trust
are at an end, and making such provision for the winding-
up of such estate or trust, and the transfer of the property
thereof, as may be necessary.
43. In all applications under this Act to the Supreme
Court, the Court may make any order authorized by this
Act, either absolutely, or subject to any terms or conditions,
and the costs of all such applications shall be in the
discretion of the Court.
44. It shall be lawful for the Supreme Court to make any
general orders respecting any application to the Supreme
Court, or to the Judge thereof, under this Act. Until such
orders are made, all applications to the Court shall be by
petition, and the present procedure shall apply to all
me inclusion of this page is adonzed by LH. 3/u)o11
ADMINISTRATOR-GENERAL
proceedings upon such petitions, and also to all proceedings
at Chambers under this Act, except so far as such procedure
may be varied by any direction of the Court or Judge.
19
45. No change of the person holding the office of =&
Administrator-General shall affect any estate or trust vested mr-ocn+.
in or administered by the Administrator-General, but such ofutafta.
estates and trusts shall vest in the succeeding Administrator- ztz:;f
General, whether appointed temporarily or permanently, in c r n i n g '
the same way, and to the same extent, that they vested
in the former Administrator-General. Such succeeding
Administrator-Genera1 shall hold in all resspects the same
position with regard to such estates and trusts as the former
Administrator-General held. No proceedings, legal or other,
pending on a change of the person holding the office of
Administrator-General, shall be affected in any way by such
change, but such proceedings may be continued by and
against the succeeding Administrator-General, whether
appointed temporarily or permanently, as they might have
been continued by and against the former Administrator-
General, without suggestion, revival or other similar
proceeding.
md mtuu
46. Estates and trusts under the management of or vested
in the Administrator-General, or which the Administrator- a m o r
General is entitled to administer, or to have vested in him, v w ~ m
shall not be administered by the Supreme Court, unless it him*
be proved to the satisfaction of the Court that such estate or
trust cannot be properly administered by the Administrator-
General, and the Supreme Court shall not have any power
to substitute any person for the Administrator-General to
perform the duties with regard to any estate or trust vested
in or administered by the Administrator-General.
catatntetc..
[The inclusion of @his plge is authorized by L.N. 3/20011
20 ADMINISTRATOR-GENERAL
Powerrof
Chamben.
47. All applications that may be made to, and whatever
may be done by, the Supreme Court under this Act may be
made to, and may be done by, a Judge of the Court in
Chambers, who, in any proceeding under this Act shall have
the same powers and jurisdiction as the Court.
Judge in
-F for
admmistra-
thn of
estbtes.
2811999
S. 7 (al.
2811999
s. I (Cl.
48.-(1) The Administrator-General shall be entitled to
a commission of six per cenfum on all payments made by
him in respect of debts, liabilities, cost of management,
and other similar charges, and on all payments in respect
of dividends, interests, rents, or other produce, or receipts
of any estate or trust, and also on all property, real and
personal, conveyed, assigned, or distributed by him, includ-
mg the final transfer of the corpus of any trust fund, or of
any part thereof. Such commission shall be the remunera-
tion for the time and responsibility of the Administrator-
General in the general administr;utian of the aftate or trust.
(2) Any expenses in respect of any other matters,
including travelling expenses relating to any estate or trust,
may be charged against the estate or trust, in the same way,
and to the same extent, that such expenses might be charged
under similar circumstances by any administrator, executor,
trustee, or guardian, other than the Administrator-General.
(3) In addition to the charga s@ed in subsec-
tions (1) and (2), the Administrator-General may, in con-
nection with any &te or trust a d m i n i d or managed
by him, charge such fees as may be presoribed.
Miscellaneous Provisiom
49. All commissions, fees and remuneration other than
salary, payable to, or receivable by, the Administrator-
aid m the General, under or in pursuance of the provkions of this Act
or under or in pursuance of the provisions of any enactment
amending or substituted therefor shall, as the same are
Aura- m neration
o c ~ t i ~
salary to be
%nrolidatsd
Fund.
42/1969 3rd Sch.
me inclusion of h i s pge is authorized by L.N. 3/20011
ADMINISTRATORGENERA L 21
received by him, be paid into the Treasury and shall form
part of the Consolidated Fund.
50. When the Administrator-General is appointed by the Bununcn-
Supreme Court receiver of any estate, he shall receive the reaivetot
same remuneration that any other person would have been gz$h,
entitled to, if appointed receiver under similar circumstances; :zt,=,
and when he is a CO-trustee, co-guardian, or oo-committee,
he shall be entitIed to deduct the same fees as if he were
the sole trustee, guardian, or committee.
tim aa
51. The Government shall provide the Administrator- G0-t
General with a suitable office, and with such clerks and o&,clerlra
assistants as may from time to time be necessary; and all of,,&m-
expenses of the said office, and all expenses incurred by the : e ' o *
Administrator-General in and about the performance of the
duties of his office shall be defrayed out of the Consolidated
Fund.
to mvldc
d c x nsss
52. When, in the performance of the duties of his office, 272-
the Administrator-General has incurred any expense, or a-
made himself liable to any claim or demand, and there is
no fund out of which he may or can lawfully recoup or re-
imburse himself in respect of the same, then, on any Judge
of the Supreme Court certifying that such expense was
properly and reasonably incurred, or that such liability was
properly and reasonably undertaken as aforesaid, it shall
be lawful for the Minister to order that such expense shall
be reimbursed out of, or such liability be assumed by. the
Consolidated Fund and assets of the Island. T h e
provisions of this section shall apply to the Deputy
Administrator-General in the same manner as they apply
to the Administrator-General. -
[The inclusion of this page is authorized by L.N. 3/20011
RL-3
22 ADMINISTRA TOR-GENERAL
Adminis
tration of
assets of
deceased in
the hands
of the
Govcmmcnt.
2811999
s. 8 (a).
2811999.
s. 8 tC).
53.--(1) The assets of any person dying in this Island or
abroad, which shall be in or pass into the possession of the
Government of this Island, and for which provision is not
otherwise made, shall be delivered to the Administrator-
General, unless within six weeks of the same coming into
possession of the Government, or the death of the deceased
person, whichever shall last happen, probate of the will of
such deceased person, or Letters of Administration on the
estate and effects of such deceased person be produced to
the Minister.
(2) If the said assets do not exceed fifty thousand
dollars, the Administrator-General shall divide the same,
after deducting his commission and expenses, to and
amongst any person or persons who shall appear to him to
be entitled to the effects of such deceased person.
(3) If such assets exceed fifty thousand dollars,
but do not exceed five hundred thousand dollars 01 such
other amount as the Minister may by order prescribe, the
Administrator-General shall, after the expiration of six
weeks from the receipt by him of such assets, apply for a
grant of Letters of Administration on the estate and effects
of such deceased person, in the Resident Magistrate’s Court
for the parish of Kingston, which is hereby authorized to
grant such AdminisWm, and shall administer the said
assets according to law.
(4) If such &%sets exceed five hundred thousand
dollars or such other amount as the Minister may by order
prescribe, the Administrator-General shall aftex the expira-
tion of six weeks from the receipt by him of such assets,
apply for a grant of Lettern of Administration on the estate
and effeds of such deceased person in the Supreme Court,
and shall administer the same according to law.
[The inclusion of this page ia authorized by L.N. 3/20011
ADMINISTRA TOR-GENERA L 23
53A.41) Where the Administrator-General is satisfied
that an estate consists solely of pers~nalty not exceeding one
hundred thousand d o l h or such higher amount as the m / i m
Minister may by order prescribe, it shall be lawful for the
Administrator-General, without the grant of letters of
administration, to administer that estate for the benefit of
the persons inkrested therein a6 if letters of administration
had been granted to him.
(2) Notice of any estate administered pursuant to
subsection (1) shall be published in such manner as may
s 9.
be prescribed.
54. The Adminiitrator-Genera1 may, with the approval ETww
of the Government, and on such terms as to remuneration as FzG,
the Government may approve, require any clerk of a Magmrsa’s
Resident Magistrate’s Court to act as his agent in respect of oIher
any estate or trust vested in or administered by the
Administrator-Generat and the Administrator-General may
appoint any other persons to act as his agents, if he pleases
to do so.
b u n and
55. All conveyances, transfers, mortgages, charges, grants, zrze,,
deeds, contracts or instruments to which the Administrator- 10 which
General as such may be party shall be expressed to be torGemni
granted to or by or made with him in his style of ofice as *mm*
‘The Administrator-General for Jamaica, administrator (or
executor) of the estate (or of the Will) of A.
B. deceased”, or, “trustee of the marriage
settlement of X and Y” (or otherwise us the case may be).
And all estates trusts and property shall be vested in and
dealt with by him in the manner and according to the style
hereinbefore provided; and he shall be so entered in the
Adrn’nidn-
IThc klusion of bbis page is suthoriud by L.N. 3!ZW1]
ADMINISTRATOR GENERAL
register of titles as the proprietor under the Registration of
Titles Act for the time being in force of any land, mortgage,
charge or lease or interest in the same.
BOOkS
cvidcna.
56. All entries made in the ordinary course of business.
in the books kept under this Act at the Administrator-
General's office, with respect to any estate or trust vested
in or administered by him under this Act shall be in all legal
proceedings prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated.
primolrrcie
Auihcnti- 57. Copies, authenticated by the signature of the
ofenvier Administrator-General, of any entries in the books kept
therein evid nce. under this Act at the Administrator-General's office, with
respect to any estate or trust vested in or administered by
him under this Act, shall be admissible in evidence, and
shall have the same effect in evidence, in all respects, as the
originals from which such copies were made.
caad mpiea
Proof of 58. In all legal proceedings judicial notice shall be taken
A d m u m - of the signature of the Administrator-General; but any
Court or Judge may require the signature of the
Administrator-General to be proved in the ordinary way,
if such Court or Judge thinks it is doubtful whether the
alleged signature is genuine.
signature of
tor-General.
Wbenbooh 59. The books kept under this Act at the Administrator-
hevidcnEc. General's office shall not be produced in evidence in any
legal proceeding, except by order of the Supreme Court, or
of one of the Judges of such Court.
produciblc
R & h
2811999
5.10.
60. The Minister may make regulations subject to negative
resolution pmdbing anything xequired by this Aat to be
prescribed.
m e inclusion of ahis page is 4 a r i z s d by L N 3120011
A DMlNlSTRA TORGENERAL
SCHEDULE (Section 9)
For every search in books kept by the
Administrator-General, for each
two hours, or fractional uart of
Fees -
two hours ... tm CentS.
Copies of any books"kept by '&
Administrator-General, or of any
entries therein. or of any portion
thereof, authenticated by the sig-
nature of the Administrator-
General. for each she& or portion
of a sheet of one hundred and
sixty words ... ... ... fifteen cents
25
m e inclusion of this page is &rized by L.N. 3/uy)1]
