Wills and Probate
L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 1
WILLS AND PROBATE ACT
CHAPTER 9:03
Ordinances
25 of 1945
and
34 of 1945
Amended by
2 of 1972
28 of 1973
* 30 of 1975 (by implication)
*47 of 1980
*27 of 1981
*28 of 2000
*See Note on page 2
Current Authorised Pages
Pages Authorised
(inclusive) by L.R.O.
1–78 ..
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2 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
Note on Subsidiary Legislation
See Schedules to this Act for Subsidiary Legislation.
Note on Act No. 30 of 1975
With respect to the execution of a Will for a “patient” as defined in the Mental Health Act
(Ch. 28:02) —See sections 36, 37 and 38 of that Act.
Note on Act No. 47 of 1980
Section 8 of Act No. 47 of 1980 provides as follows:
8. From the date of the coming into operation of the first Revised Edition of
the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago under the Law Revision Act, 1979, any fine
(within the meaning of paragraph 1 of the Second Schedule to the said Act)
prescribed by a written law of Trinidad and Tobago not published in the said
Revised Edition shall be increased in accordance with the provisions of
paragraph 1(b), (c) and (d) of the Second Schedule to the said Act.”.
Note on Act No. 27 of 1981
The Second Schedule to the Succession Act 1981 (Act No. 27 of 1981) purported to repeal
the Wills and Probate Ordinance (Ch. 8. No. 2). However, only section 122 and Part VIII of the
Succession Act have been brought into operation. The other Parts of the Act (i.e. Act No. 27
of 1981) and the Schedules thereto are yet to be brought into operation.
Note on Part III of the Ordinance
Family Provision
Sections 89 to 93A(repealed by Act No. 28 of 2000)
The former sections 89 to 93A of the Ordinance were repealed and replaced by Schedule 2 to
the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Act, 1972 (Act No. 2 of 1972) as sections 89
to 93A. However, sections 89 to 93A were in turn repealed by Part III of the Distribution
of Estates Act, 2000 (Act No. 28 of 2000).
See now Part VIII of the Succession Act, 1981 (Act No. 27 of 1981) (viz., sections 94 to 111)
which deals with the subject matter of family provision.
See also section 1(2) of Act No. 28 of 2000 with respect to a person dying after
25th September 2000.
“Increase of
fines.
[44 of 1979].
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 3
CHAPTER 9:03
WILLS AND PROBATE ACT
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
PART I
WILLS AND PROBATE
3. Jurisdiction of Court.
4. Application of practice of Probate Division.
5. Probate, etc., required for realty.
6. Rights and liabilities of representative.
7. Liability to discharge debts of deceased not to be affected.
8. Executor to be a trustee.
9. Beneficial interest of executor in personalty.
10. Executor de son tort liable to penalty.
11. Executor de son tort how chargeable.
12. Cesser of right of executor to prove.
13. Withdrawal of renunciation.
14. Executor of executor represents original testator.
15. Right of proving executors to exercise powers.
16. Provisions as to the number of representatives.
17. Administration pendente lite.
18. Continuance of legal proceedings after revocation of temporary
administration.
19. Administration during minority of executor.
20. Disclaimer by executor.
21. Unproved Will to have no effect.
22. Summons to discover Will.
23. Penalty for not producing Will.
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4 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
24. Rules and fees.
25. Right to administration.
26. Effect of administration where an executor is living.
27. Voidable administration.
28. Power to discharge representative.
29. Removal of representative.
30. Order of persons entitled to administration.
31. Administration with Will annexed, etc.
32. Citations to persons having prior rights.
33. Persons abroad need not be cited.
34. Creditors.
Persons to be summoned.
35. Special administration.
Administration of estates by Consular Officers.
Variation of Schedule.
36. Power to grant representation to a trust corporation.
37. Interim orders, etc.
Injunction.
38. Appeal from refusal of application.
39. Caveats.
40. Probate not to issue until certificate relating to estate and succession
duties filed.
EXECUTION OF WILL
41. Will valid if executed according to formalities of domicil.
42. Execution of Wills.
43. Wills executed before commencement of the Act.
44. Execution of powers of appointment.
45. Attestation by legatee, etc., not to invalidate Will.
46. Executor competent to attest.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS—Continued
SECTION
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Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 5
REVOCATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF WILLS
47. Change of domicil not to invalidate Will.
48. Revocation by marriage.
49. No revocation by presumption.
50. Revocation in prescribed manner.
51. Interlineation or other alteration, how to be verified.
52. Revoked Will not to be revived by implication.
53. Conveyance inter vivos no revocation.
54. Construction of Will as to time.
55. Lapsed interest to fall into residue.
56. Construction of general devise.
57. Idem.
58. Construction of general devise.
59. Construction of limitation by devise.
60. Construction of a devise to a trustee.
61. Construction of devise of real estate to trustee without express
limitation of estate.
62. Construction of devise with words of limitation in tail.
63. Gifts to children or other issue who leave issue living at the testator’s
death shall not lapse.
64. Charges on property of deceased to be paid primarily out of the
property charged.
65. Devisee in trust may raise money by sale, notwithstanding want of
express power in the Will.
66. Powers given by last section to extend to survivors, devisees, etc.
67. Executors may exercise power where no sufficient devise.
68. Purchasers or mortgagees not bound to enquire as to powers.
69. Application of sections.
CONTENTIOUS BUSINESS
70. Contentious business.
71. Application in solemn form.
SECTION
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72. Form of applications in solemn form.
73. Joinder of Administrator General.
FILING OF ACCOUNTS
74. Duty to file accounts.
75. Costs of filing accounts.
MISCELLANEOUS
76. Custody and registration of Wills.
Registrar General to number certified copies and to annex certificate.
77. Certified copies.
78. Copy of decree to be registered.
79. Conveyancing fee where estate does not exceed $1,000 in value.
80. Registration fees.
81. Administration bonds.
82. Revenue Officers to assist.
83. Depositories for Wills of living persons.
PART II
BRITISH AND COLONIAL PROBATE
84. Interpretation.
85. Sealing of probates and letters of administration granted outside
Trinidad and Tobago.
86. Conditions to be fulfilled before sealing.
87. Security for payment of debts.
88. Duplicate or copy admissible.
PART III
FAMILY PROVISION
89.
to
93A.
}
(Repealed by Act No. 28 of 2000).
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS—Continued
SECTION
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Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 7
PART IV
GENERAL
94. Real and personal estate of deceased are assets for payment of debts.
95. Access to documents.
FIRST SCHEDULE — Non-Contentious Business Rules.
SECOND SCHEDULE — Registrar General’s Certificate.
THIRD SCHEDULE — Fees.
FOURTH SCHEDULE — Depository for Wills of Living Persons.
FIFTH SCHEDULE — Administration of Estates by Consular Officers
of particular States.
SECTION
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CHAPTER 9:03
WILLS AND PROBATE ACT
An Act relating to the execution of Wills and the granting of
Probate and Letters of Administration.
[1ST SEPTEMBER 1939]
1. This Act may be cited as the Wills and Probate Act.
2. In this Act—
“administration” means, with reference to the estate of a deceased
person, letters of administration, whether general or limited,
or with the Will annexed or otherwise;
“administrator” means a person to whom administration
is granted;
“Administrator General” means the person appointed under the
Administration of Estates Act;
“common form business” means the business of obtaining probate
and administration where there is no contention as to the right
thereto, including the granting of probates and
administrations in contentious cases when the contest is
terminated, and all business of a non-contentious nature to
be taken in the Court in matters of testacy and intestacy not
being proceedings in any suit, and also the business of
lodging caveats against the grant of probate or
administration;
“Court” means the Supreme Court, or a Judge thereof;
“estate” includes land and chattels real as well as other chattels
and personalty, but the “estate” of a person deceased shall
not be deemed to include any property of which the deceased
died seised or possessed as a trustee only;
“estate duties” include any duty payable on the value of the estate
and effects for which probate or letters of administration is
or are granted, and “death duties” has the same meaning;
25 of 1945.
Commencement.
Short title.
Interpretation.
Ch. 9:01.
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Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 9
“law of England” means the law of England as in force on the
16th of May 1921;
“next of kin” means the person or persons entitled under an
intestacy according to the provisions of the Administration
of Estates Act;
“probate” means the probate of a Will;
“Registrar” means the Registrar of the Supreme Court and
includes the Sub-Registrar thereof;
“representative” means the executor or the administrator for the
time being of a deceased person; and includes the
Administrator General, and in the construction of any Act or
Ordinance or rule where the word “heir” or “heirs” is used,
the same shall, as regards the devolution of the legal estate
in land, be held to apply to the representative, and, as regards
the beneficial interest, to the person or persons entitled under
the provisions of the Administration of Estates Act;
“rules” means rules made under this Act and includes forms;
“Will” includes “testament,” “codicil” and all other testamentary
instruments of which probate may now be granted.
PART I
WILLS AND PROBATE
3. The Court shall have jurisdiction to determine the validity
and admissibility to probate of the Will or the granting of
administration of the estate of any person domiciled in Trinidad
and Tobago and of the estate in Trinidad and Tobago of any person,
wherever domiciled, dying seised or possessed thereof or entitled
thereto, and to revoke any probate or administration in any suit
instituted either by an executor or administrator or any person
claiming under a Will to have it established or to have the trusts of
it carried into effect under the decree of the Court or by any person
claiming adversely to a Will or administration to have it declared
void, and the registration of it prevented or recalled, or claiming to
have administration revoked.
Ch. 9:01.
Jurisdiction of
Court.
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4. In so far as any Act or Ordinance and rules and orders of
Court do not extend, the Court shall be guided in the exercise of
its jurisdiction under this Act by the jurisprudence and practice for
the time being of the Probate Division of the High Court of Justice
in England so far as the same may be applicable.
5. The Court shall have jurisdiction in respect of probate and
administration equally whether the estate of a deceased person
consists of realty only or of personalty only, or partly of realty and
partly of personalty.
6. Every executor of any Will which shall be proved after
the commencement of this Act, and every administrator to whom
any administration of the estate of any person shall be granted
after the commencement of this Act, shall take and have the same
estate and interest in and control over the estate of his testator or
of the intestate, and shall have the same rights, actions, powers,
and authorities, and be subject to the same actions, suits, and
liabilities, in respect of such estate, as any executor or administrator
would take, have, and be subject to in respect of personal estate
according to the law of England; and all actions and suits and rights
of action and suit which, by the law of England, would go to the
executor or administrator or heir of any person dying in England
and all actions and suits to which any executor or administrator or
heir would be subject according to the law of England, shall, in
Trinidad and Tobago, in like manner go to and be maintainable
against every representative who, after the commencement of this
Act, shall prove the Will or obtain administration of the estate of
any person dying and leaving effects within Trinidad and Tobago.
7. Nothing herein contained shall be taken to relieve or
discharge any representative, devisee, or devisees of any person
from his or their liability for the debts and contracts of such person
to the extent of the property descended or devised to such
representative, devisee, or devisees; and where any person, by bond,
covenant, or other specialty, shall have bound himself and his heirs
or representative, every creditor shall and may have and maintain
Application
of practice of
Probate
Division.
Probate, etc.,
required for
realty.
Rights and
liabilities of
representative.
Liability to
discharge debts
of deceased not
to be affected.
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Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 11
his action of debt or covenant upon such bond, covenant, or
specialty against the representative and the devisee or devisees of
such obligor or covenantor, or the devisee or devisees of such first
mentioned devisee or devisees jointly in the same manner as he
might by the law of England, and such representative, devisee, or
devisees may plead any plea to such action which he or they would
be permitted to plead by the law of England: Provided that all the
estate which any person shall die possessed of or entitled to shall
be assets to be administered for the payment of all the just debts of
such person.
8. Every person who may be appointed executor by any
Will shall be deemed a trustee, in respect of any residue not
expressly disposed of, for the person or persons (if any) who would
be entitled thereto according to law in the same manner as if this
Act had not been passed, unless it shall appear by the Will that the
person or persons so appointed executor or executors was or were
intended to take such residue beneficially.
9. Where there is not any person who would by law be entitled
to the testator’s estate, the executor shall be entitled to the residue
in such part of the estate as consists of personalty, but as to land
the same shall be subject to the rights of the State as heretofore.
10. If any person shall take possession of or in any manner
administer any part of the estate of any person deceased without
proving the Will or obtaining administration of the estate of the
deceased within three months after the decease of such person, or
within one month after the termination of any suit respecting the
Will or the right to administration or application to the Court,
whichever shall last happen, he shall be deemed guilty of an
offence against this Act, and, in addition to all civil liabilities he
may have incurred to persons entitled to any interest in such estate,
he shall be liable, on summary conviction, on the complaint of the
Administrator General, to a fine of five hundred dollars or to
imprisonment for six months. The Administrator General may
Executor to be
a trustee.
Beneficial
interest of
executor in
personalty.
Executor
de son tort
liable to penalty.
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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take summary proceedings under this section at any time within
five years from the time when the cause of complaint arose.
11. If any person, not being the executor or administrator,
shall take upon himself the office of executor, or intermeddle with
the estate of any party deceased, such person shall be charged and
chargeable as executor of his own wrong of the party deceased,
and shall be subject to all actions and suits to which an executor of
his own wrong is subject according to the law of England; and
where any question shall arise whether any person is chargeable
by reason of any act done by him as executor of his own wrong,
such question shall be decided according to the law of England in
the like case.
12. Where a person appointed executor by a Will—
(a) survives the testator but dies without having taken
out probate of the Will; or
(b) is cited to take out probate of the Will and does
not appear to the citation; or
(c) renounces probate of the Will,
his rights in respect of the executorship shall wholly cease and the
representation to the testator and the administration of his estate
shall devolve and be committed in like manner as if that person
had not been appointed executor.
13. (1) Where an executor who has renounced probate has
been permitted, whether before or after the commencement of
this Act, to withdraw the renunciation and prove the Will, the
probate shall take effect and be deemed always to have taken effect
without prejudice to the previous acts and dealings of and notices
to any other representative who has previously proved the Will or
taken out letters of administration, and a memorandum of the
subsequent probate shall be endorsed on the original probate or
letters of administration.
(2) This section applies whether the testator died before
or after the commencement of this Act.
Executor
de son tort
how chargeable.
Cesser of right
of executor to
prove.
Withdrawal of
renunciation.
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14. (1) An executor of a sole or last surviving executor of a
testator is the executor of that testator.
This provision shall not apply to an executor who does not
prove the Will of his testator, and, in the case of an executor who
on his death leaves surviving him some other executor of his testator
who afterwards proves the Will of that testator, it shall cease to
apply on such probate being granted.
(2) So long as the chain of such representation is
unbroken, the last executor in the chain is the executor of every
preceding testator.
(3) The chain of such representation is broken by—
(a) an intestacy; or
(b) the failure of a testator to appoint an executor; or
(c) the failure to obtain probate of a Will,
but is not broken by a temporary grant of administration if probate
is subsequently granted.
(4) Every person in the chain of representation to
a testator—
(a) has the same rights in respect of the estate of that
testator as the original executor would have had
if living; and
(b) is, to the extent to which the estate of that testator
has come to his hands, answerable as if he were
an original executor.
15. (1) Where probate is granted to one or some of two or
more persons named as executors, whether or not power is reserved
to the others or other to prove, all the powers which are by law
conferred on the representative may be exercised by the proving
executor or executors for the time being and shall be as effectual
as if all the persons named as executors had concurred therein.
(2) This section applies whether the testator died before
or after the commencement of this Act.
Executor of
executor
represents
original testator.
Right of
proving
executors to
exercise
powers.
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16. (1) Probate or administration shall not be granted to
more than four persons in respect of the same estate.
(2) This section shall apply to grants made after the date
of commencement of this Act, whether the testator or intestate
died before or after that date.
17. (1) Where any legal proceedings touching the validity of
the Will of a deceased person, or for obtaining, recalling, or revoking
any grant, are pending, the Court may grant administration of the
estate of the deceased to an administrator, who shall have all the
rights and powers of a general administrator, other than the right
of distributing the residue of the estate, and every such administrator
shall be subject to the immediate control of the Court and act under
its direction.
(2) The Court may, out of the estate of the deceased, assign
to an administrator appointed under this section such reasonable
remuneration as the Court thinks fit.
18. If, while any legal proceeding is pending in the Court by
or against an administrator to whom a temporary administration
has been granted, that administration is revoked, the Court may
order that the proceeding be continued by or against the new
representative in like manner as if the same had been originally
commenced by or against him, but subject to such conditions and
variations, if any, as the Court directs.
19. (1) Where an infant is sole executor of a Will,
administration with the Will annexed shall be granted to his
guardian, or to such other person as the Court thinks fit, until the
infant attains the age of eighteen years, and on his attaining that
age and not before, probate of the Will may be granted to him.
(2) Where a testator by his Will appoints an infant to be
an executor, the appointment shall not operate to transfer any
interest in the estate of the deceased to the infant or to constitute
him a representative for any purpose unless and until probate is
granted to him under this section.
Provisions as to
the number of
representatives.
Administra-
tion pendente
lite.
Continuance
of legal
proceedings
after
revocation of
temporary
administration.
Administration
during minority
of executor.
[28 of 1973].
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20. (1) Any executor, notwithstanding he may have proved
the Will of his testator, may at any time before he has intermeddled
with the assets or acted as the representative of any person (in this
section referred to as the “original testator”) of whom his testator
was executor, renounce and disclaim being the representative of
such original testator by making a declaration to that effect in the
form set out in the Appendix to the First Schedule hereto, and
registering the same with the Registrar General, and filing a certified
copy thereof in the registry of the Court.
(2) The declaration shall have effect and validity only
when registered, and on the registration thereof all the estate of the
original testator which devolved to and became vested in such
executor shall vest in law in the continuing executor or executors,
and, if there be none, then in the Administrator General.
(3) The registration fee on such declaration shall be the
sum of one dollar and twenty cents and no stamp duty shall be
chargeable thereon.
(4) Whenever a declaration made under the provisions of
this section contains any false or incorrect particulars, the person
making it shall be deemed guilty of an offence against this Act
and in addition to all civil liabilities he may have incurred, he shall
be liable, on summary conviction, on the complaint of the
Administrator General, to a fine of five hundred dollars or to
imprisonment for six months. The Administrator General may take
summary proceedings under this section at any time within five
years from the time when the cause of the complaint arose.
21. No Will of any person deceased shall have any effect
whatever, either in law or in equity, or shall pass any right, title, or
interest whatever, until the same has been duly proved in accordance
with the provisions of this Act.
22. The Administrator General or any person alleging
himself to be interested in the estate of any person deceased may
by summons at any time call upon any person whom he alleges to
Disclaimer by
executor.
First Schedule.
Unproved Will
to have no
effect.
Summons to
discover Will.
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be in possession of any Will of the deceased to produce the same;
and the party upon whom such summons shall be served shall
appear on the day to be named in such summons, and shall be
bound to produce any such Will, and no Will afterwards propounded
by the person omitting or refusing to produce the same in obedience
to such summons shall be admitted to probate at any time thereafter
without express leave of the Court.
23. Any person refusing or omitting in obedience to such
summons to produce, at the time mentioned in such summons,
any such Will purporting to have been executed by the testator,
if it is at any time proved that any such Will was at the time of the
service on him of such summons in his custody or control, shall
be liable to attachment.
24. Rules for carrying this Act into effect as far as relate to
practice, procedure and fees in connection therewith may be made
in like manner as rules may be made under and for the purposes
of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act: Provided that until varied
or revoked by rules made under this section the rules contained
in the First Schedule and the fees specified in Part I of the Third
Schedule hereto shall be in force.
25. Where any person shall die intestate or without having
appointed any executor, or shall have appointed an executor but
such appointment shall fail, or the executor named by the Will
shall be under the age of twenty-one years, or shall be absent from
Trinidad and Tobago and shall not have proved the Will, or where
any person shall die out of Trinidad and Tobago but leaving any
estate within Trinidad and Tobago; administration in respect of
such estate shall be granted to the person entitled thereto:
Provided that if, by reason of the insolvency of the estate of the
deceased or of any other special circumstances, it appears to the
Court to be necessary or expedient to appoint as administrator
some person other than the person who, but for this provision,
would by law have been entitled to the grant of administration, the
Court may in its discretion, notwithstanding anything in this Act,
appoint as administrator such person as it thinks expedient,
Penalty for not
producing Will.
Rules and fees.
Ch. 4:01.
First Schedule.
Third Schedule.
Right to
administration.
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and any administration granted under this provision may be
limited in any way the Court thinks fit.
26. All letters of administration, granted at a time when there
shall be an executor who has not proved the Will, shall be voidable
only and not void; but such administration shall become void when
and so soon as a Will of the person of whose estate such
administration shall have been granted shall be duly proved by
any executor, or when such administration shall be revoked by
order of the Court.
27. All acts done by any administrator under letters of
administration which shall be voidable shall be valid
notwithstanding administration shall afterwards become void
or be revoked, but persons who shall have received any property
as next of kin shall be liable to account for and transfer the
same to the legatees or devisees or other persons entitled thereto
under the Will, without prejudice to the rights of purchasers for
valuable consideration.
28. The Court may by decree in any suit discharge a
representative from his office, and, upon any such discharge,
may (if necessary) grant administration to any person or persons,
which administration shall be as valid as if the representative so
discharged had died.
29. A representative may be removed by order of the Court
for disobedience to any of its orders and, where it is necessary,
some other person appointed in his stead, and the Court may order
that such estate of the deceased as was vested in the representative
so removed do vest in such person as may be appointed.
30. Applications for administration may be made by the
following persons, as of course, and in the following order
of preference:
(a) in cases of intestacy—
(i) the surviving husband or widow of the
intestate;
(ii) the next of kin;
(iii) the Administrator General;
Effect of
administration
where an
executor is
living.
Voidable
administration.
Power to
discharge
representative.
Removal of
representative.
Order of persons
entitled to
administration.
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18 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
(b) where no executor has been appointed, or the
executor is absent from Trinidad and Tobago,
or is unable or unwilling to act—
(i) the residuary devisee or residuary legatee;
(ii) a devisee or legatee;
(iii) the next of kin;
(iv) the Administrator General.
31. Where there shall be an executor of a Will, but such
executor shall not have proved the Will and shall not have signed
a declaration of renunciation, or where there shall be any residuary
or other devisee or legatee or next of kin who shall not have signed
a declaration of renunciation, the Court may, in any such case, if
such executor, devisee, legatee, or next of kin do not appear after
citation, or if such executor, devisee, legatee, or next of kin shall
appear but shall not show any sufficient cause to the contrary, order
that administration with the Will annexed be granted to the person
who would be entitled thereto, if such executor, devisee, legatee,
or next of kin had duly renounced.
32. An applicant for a grant of administration with the Will
annexed or for administration shall cite all persons having a prior
right to apply for a grant of probate or administration, as the case
may be, and who have not renounced the right to the grant. The
Court may grant administration to the applicant in the event of the
persons having such prior right failing to appear and to accept the
grant after having been cited to do so.
33. It shall be lawful for the Court to grant administration of
the estate within Trinidad and Tobago of any person to any person
resident within Trinidad and Tobago who would otherwise be
entitled to the same without any previous citation to or the consent
of any other party having a prior right to administration, but not
resident or actually living within Trinidad and Tobago: Provided
always, that such administration shall be granted with reservation
of the right of the party having such prior right.
34. (1) On producing an affidavit stating who is the person
who would be entitled to probate or administration, and showing
Administration
with Will
annexed, etc.
Citations to
persons having
prior rights.
Persons abroad
need not be
cited.
Creditors.
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Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 19
that such person has renounced the right to the same or neglected
or refused to apply for the same after citation, and that the claim of
the applicant is unsatisfied, but not otherwise, it shall be lawful for
any person proving himself to be—
(a) a creditor of the testator or intestate; or
(b) a creditor for funeral expenses,
to apply for administration: Provided that in any case, the
application shall set out and the applicant shall swear to the alleged
debt and the particulars thereof with the same particularity as is
required for the special endorsement of a writ of summons in
an action.
(2) In any such application the Court may, in its discretion,
cause to be summoned the executor named in the Will or the
husband, wife, residuary legatee, or next of kin, as the case may
be, or any other person interested in the estate of the deceased,
and, if there are no persons so entitled or interested, the
Administrator General.
35. (1) At any time after the expiration of six calendar months
from the death of any testator, if the executors or executor to whom
probate of the Will shall have been granted are or is then residing
out of the jurisdiction of the Court, it shall be lawful for the Court
on the application of the Administrator General or of a creditor or
of any person having a beneficial interest grounded on affidavit
showing the interest of the party applying and that the executors
or executor are or is out of the jurisdiction, to grant a special
administration of the estate of the testator, such administration to
be limited during the absence of such executors or executor.
(2) Anything to the contrary notwithstanding in section 30
and subsection (1) of this section, whenever any subject or citizen
of any State mentioned in the first column of the Fifth Schedule
hereto dies within Trinidad and Tobago, or dies outside Trinidad
and Tobago leaving property in Trinidad and Tobago, and no person
is present in Trinidad and Tobago at the time of his death who is
rightfully entitled to administer the estate of such deceased person,
the Consul, Vice-Consul, or Consular Agent of such State within
Trinidad and Tobago may take possession and have the custody of
Persons to be
summoned.
Special
administration.
Administration
of estates by
Consular
Officers.
Fifth Schedule.
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
20 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
the property of such deceased person, and may apply the same in
payment of his debts and funeral expenses, and may retain the
surplus for the benefit of the persons entitled thereto; but such
Consul, Vice-Consul, or Consular Agent shall immediately apply
for, and shall be entitled to obtain from the Court, administration
of the estate of such deceased person, limited in such manner and
for such time as to the Court shall seem fit.
(3) It shall be lawful for the President by Proclamation to
vary the Schedule referred to in the next preceding subsection—
(a) by deleting therefrom any State when the
provision of the Treaty with that State mentioned
in the Schedule shall have ceased to have effect;
(b) by adding thereto any State with whom the
Government of Trinidad and Tobago shall make
a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation containing
provision similar to any of the provisions
mentioned in the Schedule aforesaid.
36. (1) The Court may—
(a) where a trust corporation is named in a Will as
executor, whether alone or jointly with another
person, grant probate to the corporation either
solely or jointly with another person, as the case
may require; and
(b) grant administration to a trust corporation, either
solely or jointly with another person, and the
corporation may act accordingly as executor or
administrator, as the case may be.
(2) Probate or administration shall not be granted to a
syndic or nominee on behalf of a trust corporation.
(3) Any officer authorised for the purpose by a trust
corporation or the directors or governing body thereof may, on
behalf of the corporation, swear affidavits, give security and do
any other act or thing which the Court may require with a view to
the grant to the corporation of probate or administration, and the
acts of any officer so authorised shall be binding on the corporation.
Variation of
Schedule.
Power to grant
representation to
a trust
corporation.
Ord. 25–1945.
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(4) Where, at the commencement of this Act, any interest
in any estate is vested in a syndic on behalf of a trust corporation
acting as the personal representatives of a deceased person, the
said interest shall by virtue of this Act vest in the corporation in
respect of the said interest.
This subsection shall not apply to securities registered or
inscribed in the name of a syndic or to land registered under the
Real Property Act, or to an encumbrance registered thereunder, in
the name of a syndic, but any such securities, land, or
encumbrances, shall be granted or transferred by the syndic to the
corporation or as the corporation may direct.
(5) This section shall have effect whether the testator or
the intestate died before or after the commencement of this Act,
and no such vesting, grant or transfer as aforesaid shall operate as
a breach of a covenant or conditions against alienation or give rise
to forfeiture.
(6) For the purposes of this section “trust corporation”
means the Public Trustee or a corporation either appointed by the
Court in any particular case to be a trustee or authorised by Rules
made under section 15 of the Public Trustee Ordinance to act as
custodian trustee.
37. (1) Pending the hearing of any action, petition, summons,
or other proceeding, whether in the nature of contentious or
common form business, it shall be lawful for the Court, on the
application of the Administrator General or of any party interested,
on its being shown that the estate of any person deceased is in
danger of spoliation or that for any other reason steps require to be
taken for the custody or preservation of any property forming part
of such estate, to appoint an interim receiver or grant an interim
injunction or order the sale of any perishable property to be made
by any person, and otherwise to intervene for the protection of the
estate of the deceased in such manner and on such terms as to
security and otherwise as to the Court shall seem fit: Provided that
any application under this section may be made in the first instance
ex parte on affidavit.
Ch. 56:02.
Ch. 8 No. 4.
(1950 Ed.).
Interim orders,
etc.
Ch. 8.
No. 2–1940
ss. 26 and 37.
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22 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
(2) In any proceedings in which the validity of a Will is in
question, or which are brought to recall any letters of administration,
the Court shall have power to grant an injunction to prevent any
representative from acting under such Will or administration.
38. On a refusal to grant probate or administration arising in
the course of common form business, the applicant shall have the
same right of appeal as if such refusal had been a refusal to make
an order on an interlocutory application in Chambers ex parte in
an ordinary action. But no appeal (other than by an action for
revocation of probate or grant) shall lie on behalf of any party
other than the applicant from the decision of the Court.
39. Any person claiming, as against the applicant for
administration, to be entitled to administration, and any person
objecting to the proof of the alleged Will, may enter a caveat against
the grant of administration or probate to the applicant.
40. No probate or administration shall be granted by the Court
until the applicant has filed with the Registrar the certificate
mentioned in subsection (3) of section 35 of the Estate and
Succession Duties Act, or has filed the certificate mentioned in
subsection (2) or subsection (4) of section 36 of that Act.
EXECUTION OF WILL
41. Every Will made out of Trinidad and Tobago by a British
subject (whatever may be the domicil of such person at the time of
making the same or at the time of his death) shall, as regards
personal estate of such British subject within Trinidad and Tobago,
be held to be well executed for the purpose of being admitted to
probate in Trinidad and Tobago if the same be made according to
the forms required either by the law of the place where such person
was domiciled when the same was made, or by the laws in force at
the time of the making thereof in that Commonwealth country
where such person had his domicil of origin.
42. Save as hereinbefore provided, no Will executed after the
commencement of this Act shall be admitted to probate or annexed
Injunction.
Appeal from
refusal of
application.
Caveats.
Probate not to
issue until
certificate
relating to estate
and succession
duties filed.
Ch. 76:02.
Will valid if
executed
according to
formalities of
domicil.
Execution of
Wills.
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to any letters of administration or be deemed to have any validity
for any purpose whatsoever unless such Will is in writing and
executed in manner hereinafter mentioned, that is to say,—it shall
be made by a person of the age of twenty-one years or more, it
shall either be signed at the foot or end thereof by the testator or
by some other person in his presence and by his direction and such
signature shall be made or acknowledged by the testator in the
presence of two or more witnesses of either sex competent to attest
a Will according to the law of England, present at the same time,
and such witnesses shall attest and subscribe the Will in the presence
of the testator and of each other but no form of attestation shall be
necessary. No person shall be a competent witness to any Will
executed or purporting to be executed after the 16th of May 1921,
who has attested such Will by making a cross or mark or
otherwise than by his signature in his own proper handwriting.
43. In the case of the last Will of any person dying before the
commencement of this Act, any such Will shall be admitted to
probate if shown to have been executed according to the
requirements of the law in force respecting the due execution of
Wills at the time of the death of such testator; and in case of a
person dying after such commencement, then any Will executed
by such person bearing a date of execution prior to the
commencement of this Act may at any time afterwards be admitted
to probate, though not executed in compliance with the last
preceding section, on its being proved to the satisfaction of the
Court that such Will was executed in compliance with the
requirements of the law with respect to the execution of Wills in
force at the time of such execution.
44. No appointment made by Will in exercise of any power
shall be valid unless the same be duly executed as a Will; and
every Will duly executed shall, so far as respects the execution
and attestation thereof, be a valid execution of a general power
of appointment by Will, notwithstanding it shall have been
expressly required by the instrument conferring such power that
a Will made in exercise of such power should be executed with
some additional or other form of execution or solemnity.
Wills executed
before
commencement
of the Act.
Execution of
powers of
appointment.
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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45. If any person shall attest the execution of any Will to whom
or to whose wife or husband any beneficial devise, legacy, estate,
interest, gift, or appointment of or affecting any estate (other than
and except charges and directions for the payment of any debt or
debts) shall be thereby given or made, such devise, legacy, estate,
interest, gift, or appointment shall, so far only as concerns such
person attesting the execution of such Will, or the wife or husband
of such person, or any person claiming under such person or wife
or husband, be null and void; but such person so attesting may, if
otherwise admissible, be admitted as a witness to prove the
execution of such Will or to prove the validity thereof,
notwithstanding such devise, legacy, estate, interest, gift, or
appointment mentioned in such Will.
46. No person shall, on account of his being an executor of a
Will, be incompetent to be admitted a witness to prove the execution
of such Will or the validity or invalidity thereof.
REVOCATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF WILLS
47. Subject as in section 41 expressly provided, no Will or
other testamentary instrument made within Trinidad and Tobago
by any British subject shall be held to be revoked or to have become
invalid, nor shall the construction thereof be altered, by reason of
any subsequent change of domicil of the person making the same.
48. (1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (2) and (3) of
this section every Will made by a man or woman shall be revoked
by his or her marriage: Provided that no marriage in extremis
solemnised in accordance with the provisions of the Marriage Act
shall operate as a revocation of any Will.
(2) A Will made on or after the 1st of January 1928, in
exercise of a power of appointment when the real or personal estate
thereby appointed would not in default of such appointment pass
to the testator’s heir, customary heir, executor or administrator or
the person entitled as his or her next of kin shall not be revoked by
the marriage of the testator.
Attestation by
legatee, etc.,
not to
invalidate Will.
Executor
competent to
attest.
Change of
domicil not to
invalidate Will.
Revocation by
marriage.
Ch. 45:01.
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(3) A Will made on or after the 1st of January 1928,
and expressed to be made in contemplation of a marriage shall not
be revoked by the solemnisation of the marriage contemplated.
49. No Will shall be revoked by any presumption of an
intention on the ground of an alteration in circumstances.
50. Save as in section 48 provided, no Will or any part thereof
shall be revoked otherwise than by another Will executed in manner
hereinbefore required, or by some writing declaring an intention
to revoke the same and executed in the manner in which a Will is
required to be executed, or by the burning, tearing, or otherwise
destroying the same by the testator or by some person in his
presence and by his direction, with the intention of revoking the same.
51. No obliteration, interlineation, or other alteration made in
any Will after the execution thereof shall be admitted to probate or
have any effect, except so far as the words or effect of the Will
before such alteration shall not be apparent, unless such alteration
shall be executed in like manner as hereinbefore is required for the
execution of the Will; but the Will, with such alteration as part
thereof, shall be deemed to be duly executed if the signature of the
testator and the subscription of the witnesses be made in the margin
or on some other part of the Will, opposite or near to such alteration,
or at the foot or end of or opposite to a memorandum referring to such
alteration and written at the end or some other part of the Will.
52. No Will or any part thereof which shall be in any manner
revoked shall be held to be revived otherwise than by the re-
execution thereof, or by a codicil executed in manner hereinbefore
required and showing an intention to revive the same; and when
any Will which shall be partly revoked, and afterwards wholly
revoked, shall be revived, such revival shall not extend to so much
thereof as shall have been revoked before the revocation of the
whole thereof, unless an intention to the contrary shall be shown.
53. No conveyance or other act made or done subsequently to
the execution of a Will of or relating to any estate therein comprised,
except an act by which such Will shall be revoked as aforesaid,
No revocation
by presumption.
Revocation in
prescribed
manner.
Interlineation or
other alteration,
how to be
verified.
Revoked Will
not to be revived
by implication.
Conveyance
inter vivos no
revocation.
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
26 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
shall prevent the operation of the Will with respect to such estate
or interest in such estate as the testator shall have power to dispose
of by Will at the time of his death.
54. Every Will shall be construed, with reference to the estate
comprised in it, to speak and take effect as if it had been executed
immediately before the death of the testator unless a contrary
intention shall appear by the Will.
55. Unless a contrary intention shall appear by the Will, such
real estate or interest therein as shall be comprised or intended to
be comprised in any devise in such Will contained, which shall
fail or be void by reason of the death of the devisee in the lifetime
of the testator, or by reason of such devise being contrary to law or
otherwise incapable of taking effect, shall be included in the
residuary devise (if any) contained in such Will.
56. A devise of the land of the testator, or of the land of the
testator in any place or in the occupation of any person mentioned
in his Will, or otherwise described in a general manner, and any
other general devise which would describe a leasehold estate if
the testator had no freehold estate which could be described by it,
shall be construed to include the leasehold estates of the testator as
well as freehold estates unless a contrary intention shall appear by
the Will.
57. A general devise of the real estate of the testator, or of the
real estate of the testator in any place or in the occupation of any
person mentioned in his Will, or otherwise described in a general
manner, shall be construed to include any real estate, or any real
estate to which such description shall extend (as the case may be),
which he may have power to appoint in any manner he may think
proper, and shall operate as an execution of such power, unless a
contrary intention shall appear by the Will; and in like manner a
bequest of the personal estate of the testator, or any bequest of
personal property described in a general manner, shall be construed
to include any personal estate, or any personal estate to which such
description shall extend (as the case may be), which he may have
Construction of
Will as to time.
Lapsed interest
to fall into
residue.
Construction of
general devise.
Idem.
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power to appoint in any manner he may think proper, and shall
operate as an execution of such power, unless a contrary intention
shall appear by the Will.
58. Where any real estate shall be devised to any person
without any words of limitation, such devise shall be construed to
pass the fee simple, or other the whole estate or interest which the
testator had power to dispose of by Will in such real estate, unless
a contrary intention shall appear by the Will.
59. In any devise or bequest, the words “die without issue”,
or “die without leaving issue”, or “have no issue”, or any other
words which may import either a want or failure of issue of any
person in his lifetime or at the time of his death, or an indefinite
failure of his issue, shall be construed to mean a want or failure of
issue in the lifetime or at the time of the death of such person, and
not an indefinite failure of his issue, unless a contrary intention
shall appear by the Will:
Provided that this section shall not extend to cases where such
words as aforesaid import if no issue described in a preceding gift
shall be born, or if there shall be no issue who shall live to attain
the age or otherwise answer the description required for obtaining
a vested estate by a preceding gift to such issue.
60. Where any real estate shall be devised to any trustee or
executor, such devise shall be construed to pass the fee simple or
other the whole estate or interest which the testator had power to
dispose of by Will in such real estate, unless a contrary intention
shall appear by the Will.
61. Where any real estate shall be devised to a trustee without
any express limitation of the estate to be taken by such trustee, and
the beneficial interest in such real estate or in the surplus rents and
profits thereof shall not be given to any person for life, or such
beneficial interest shall be given to any person for life but the
purposes of the trust may continue beyond the life of such person,
such devise shall be construed to vest in such trustee the fee simple,
or other the whole legal estate which the testator had power to
dispose of by Will in such real estate, and not an estate determinable
when the purposes of the trust shall be satisfied.
Construction of
general devise.
Construction of
limitation by
devise.
Construction of
a devise to a
trustee.
Construction of
devise of real
estate to trustee
without express
limitation of
estate.
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62. Where any real estate shall be devised to any person in
such manner that such person would, according to the law of
England, take an estate tail, or an estate in quasi entail, and such
person shall die in the lifetime of the testator leaving issue who
shall be inheritable under such entail and any such issue shall be
living at the time of the death of the testator, such devise shall not
lapse but shall take effect as if the death of such person had
happened immediately after the death of the testator, unless a
contrary intention shall appear by the Will.
63. Where any person, being a child or other issue of the
testator, to whom any estate shall be devised or bequeathed for
any estate or interest not determinable at or before the death of
such person, shall die in the lifetime of the testator, leaving issue,
and any such issue of such person shall be living at the time of the
death of the testator, such devise or bequest shall not lapse, but
shall take effect as if the death of such person had happened
immediately after the death of the testator unless a contrary
intention shall appear by the Will.
64. (1) Where a person dies possessed of, or entitled to, or,
under a general power of appointment by his Will disposes of, an
interest in property, which at the time of his death is charged with
the payment of money, whether by way of mortgage equitable
charge or otherwise (including a lien for unpaid purchase money),
and the deceased has not by Will, Deed or other document signified
a contrary or other intention, the interest so charged shall, as
between the different persons claiming through the deceased, be
primarily liable for the payment of the charge; and every part of
the said interest, according to its value shall bear a proportionate
part of the charge on the whole thereof.
(2) Such contrary or other intention shall not be deemed
to be signified—
(a) by a general direction for the payment of debts or
of all the debts of the testator out of his personal
estate, or his residuary real and personal estate,
or his residuary real estate, or
Construction of
devise with
words of
limitation in tail.
Gifts to children
or other issue
who leave issue
living at the
testator’s death
shall not lapse.
Charges on
property of
deceased to be
paid primarily
out of the
property
charged.
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(b) by a charge of debts upon any such estate, unless
such intention is further signified by words
expressly or by necessary implication referring
to all or some part of the charge.
(3) Nothing in this section affects the right of a person
entitled to the charge to obtain payment or satisfaction thereof either
out of the other assets of the deceased or otherwise.
65. Where by any Will the testator shall have charged his real
estate or any specific portion thereof with the payment of his debts,
or with the payment of any legacy or other specific sum of money,
and shall have devised the estate so charged to any trustee or trustees
for the whole of his estate or interest therein and shall not have
made any express provision for the raising of such debt, legacy, or
sum of money out of such estate, it shall be lawful for the said
devisee or devisees in trust, notwithstanding any trusts actually
declared by the testator, to raise such debts, legacy, or money as
aforesaid by a sale and absolute disposition by public auction or
private contract of the said estate, or any part thereof, or by a
mortgage of the same, or partly in one mode and partly in the other;
and any deed or deeds of mortgage so executed may reserve such
rate of interest and fix such period or periods of repayment as the
person or persons executing the same shall think proper.
66. The powers conferred by the last preceding section shall
extend to all and every person or persons in whom the estate devised
shall for the time being be vested by survivorship, descent, or devise,
or to any person or persons who may be appointed under any power
in the Will, or by the Court, to succeed to the trusteeship vested in
such devisee or devisees in trust as aforesaid.
67. If any testator who shall have created such a charge as is
described in section 65 shall not have devised the estate charged
as aforesaid in such terms as that his whole estate and interest therein
shall become vested in any trustee or trustees, the executor or
executors for the time being named in such Will (if any) shall have
the same or the like power of raising the said moneys as is
hereinbefore vested in the devisee or devisees in trust of the said
Devisee in trust
may raise
money by sale,
notwithstanding
want of express
power in
the Will.
Powers given by
last section to
extend to
survivors,
devisees, etc.
Executors may
exercise power
where no
sufficient
devise.
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estate, and such power shall from time to time devolve to and
become vested in the person or persons (if any) in whom the
executorship shall for the time being be vested; but any such sale
or mortgage shall operate only on the estate and interest, whether
legal or equitable of the testator, and shall not render it unnecessary
to get in any outstanding subsisting legal estate.
68. Purchasers or mortgagees shall not be bound to enquire
whether such powers shall have been duly and correctly exercised
by the person or persons acting in virtue thereof.
69. The provisions of sections 65, 66 and 67 shall not extend
to a devise to any person or persons in fee or in tail, or for the
testator’s whole estate and interest charged with debts or legacies,
nor shall they affect the power of any such devisee or devisees to
sell or mortgage as he or they may by law now do.
CONTENTIOUS BUSINESS
70. All procedure for obtaining proof of a Will in solemn form
and all proceedings in any application subsequent to appearance
being entered in answer to the warning of a caveat, and all
applications for revocation or amendment of any probate or
administration on any ground, and all proceedings by or against
executors or administrators or by or against the Administrator
General under the probate jurisdiction of the Court, shall be deemed
contentious business.
71. It shall be competent for any person claiming probate in
the first instance to make application, to be heard as an application
for grant in solemn form, by commencing an action to establish
the Will against any person with any opposite interest; but in such
case the Court shall, at the trial, not allow to the applicant the costs
or any part of the costs of such action out of the estate unless
satisfied that the action was necessary.
72. (1) Applications for probate or for grant of administration
in solemn form shall be by writ of summons, the endorsement
thereof stating the reason for the application being made for proof
or grant in solemn form.
Purchasers or
mortgagees not
bound to
enquire as to
powers.
Application of
sections.
Contentious
business.
Application in
solemn form.
Form of
applications in
solemn form.
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(2) The writ shall be served upon any party as against
whom the applicant desires to establish his right, and if no such
party is alleged, then upon the Administrator General, and any
party so served may enter appearance thereto in the prescribed
manner and may attend the hearing thereof.
73. It shall be lawful for the Court, at any stage of any
proceedings instituted under the provisions of this Act, to direct
the Administrator General to be made a party thereto, and to adjourn
any hearing, summons, or other proceeding to admit of service on
and appearance by the Administrator General.
FILING OF ACCOUNTS
74. (1) Every representative shall, within twelve months
from the date of granting of probate or administration, as the
case may be, file with the Registrar an account showing his
receipts and disbursements of the estate of the testator or intestate,
and that all sums due in respect of the said estate for estate
duty have been duly paid, and showing also the debts of the
deceased and the extent to which the same have been paid by
such representative.
(2) If any representative shall neglect or omit to file the
account in this section provided for it shall be lawful for the
Administrator General or any person alleging himself to be
interested in the estate of the deceased, to call upon such
representative by summons entitled “In the matter of the estate of
A. B. deceased and the Wills and Probate Act”, to show cause why
he should not file such account; and upon the return of such
summons, it shall be lawful for the Court to direct that such
account be filed within such time as the Court may direct, and in
case of default such representative shall be liable to attachment.
75. The representative shall, as against the estate, be entitled
to the costs and expenses of and attendant on the rendering and
filing the account in the last preceding section mentioned, if filed
within twelve months, but not otherwise.
Joinder of
Administrator
General.
Duty to file
accounts.
Costs of filing
accounts.
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
32 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
MISCELLANEOUS
76. (1) All Wills of which probate has been granted or
which have been re-sealed under the provisions of Part II of this
Act, shall remain in the registry of the Court. A certified copy of
every such Will and of every administration granted, shall,
immediately on probate or administration being granted or
re-sealed, be prepared by the Registrar, sealed with the seal of the
Court and transmitted to the Registrar General, and be registered
in the manner hereinafter provided in the Protocol of Wills in the
office of the Registrar General.
(2) The Registrar General shall number every certified
copy as aforesaid which shall be registered in each year according
to the order of time in which the same shall be delivered to him for
registration, beginning with the number one and proceeding in a
regular numerical series, and shall, at the time when any such
certified copy shall be delivered to him endorse upon and annex to
such copy a certificate under his hand, according to the form in the
Second Schedule hereto.
77. The contents of every such certified copy and of any other
certified copy of a proved Will under the seal of the Court shall be
conclusive evidence of the language of such Will and presumptive
evidence of the due execution and attestation thereof.
78. If in any suit the Court shall declare a Will to be void,
or shall revoke any administration, or shall declare one Will to
be void and establish another Will, or shall revoke any
administration and grant new administration in lieu thereof, the
Registrar shall transmit a sealed copy of the decree to the
Registrar General, which shall be forthwith entered in the
Protocol of Wills, and noted or referred to in the margin of the
copy of the Will or administration so declared void or revoked
as the case may be.
79. In all cases in which the value of the real and personal
estate shall not exceed one thousand dollars, the fee payable
for the preparation and execution of any deed of conveyance or
Custody and
registration
of Wills.
Registrar
General to
number certified
copies and to
annex
certificate.
Second
Schedule.
Certified copies.
Copy of decree
to be registered.
Conveyancing
fee where estate
does not exceed
$1,000 in value.
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 33
memorandum of transfer of land by the representative to the
person or persons beneficially entitled thereto shall be five
dollars and no more.
80. The fees specified in Part II of the Third Schedule hereto
shall be paid to the Registrar General and no application for a
grant of probate or administration or an application for re-sealing
under this Act shall be received by the Registrar except on the
production of the Registrar General’s receipt.
81. (1) Every person to whom a grant of administration is
made shall give a bond (in this section referred to as “an
administration bond”) to the Registrar, with one or more sureties
conditioned for duly collecting, getting in, and administering the
real and personal estate of the deceased: Provided that the Court
may in its discretion and in a fit and proper case dispense with any
surety to an administration bond.
(2) When the person applying for administration is the
widow or husband or only child or sole next of kin of the deceased
or the Administrator General or Public Trustee, no security shall
be required for the due administration of the estate unless the Court
shall otherwise order.
(3) Where it appears to the satisfaction of the Court
that the condition of an administration bond has been broken,
the Court may, on an application in that behalf, order that the
bond shall be assigned to such person as may be specified in
the order, and the person to whom the bond is assigned in
pursuance of the order shall be entitled to sue thereon in his
own name as if it had been originally given to him instead of to
the Registrar, and to recover thereon as trustee for all persons
interested the full amount recoverable in respect of the breach
of the condition thereof.
82. The Revenue Officers shall, on the request of the Registrar,
make or cause to be made such enquiries and reports as may be
required by the Court for the purpose of carrying out the provisions
of this Act.
Registration
fees.
Third Schedule.
Part II.
Administration
bonds.
Revenue
Officers to
assist.
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
34 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
83. There shall, under the control and direction of the
Court, at the registry of the Court at Port-of-Spain, be provided
safe and convenient depositories for the custody of the Wills of
living persons, and any person may deposit his Will therein on
payment of such fees and subject to the rules specified in the
Fourth Schedule hereto.
PART II
BRITISH AND COLONIAL PROBATE
84. For the purposes of this Part of this Act—
“British Court in a foreign country” means any British Court
having jurisdiction out of any Commonwealth country in
pursuance of an Order in Council, whether made under any
Act or otherwise;
“Court of Probate” means any Court or authority by whatever
name designated, having jurisdiction in matters of probate;
“Commonwealth country” includes any British Protectorate or
Protected State and any Territory in respect of which a
mandate on behalf of the League of Nations has been
accepted by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago;
“probate” and “letters of administration” include confirmation
in Scotland, and any instrument having in any other
Commonwealth country the same effect which under
Engl i sh law i s g iven to proba te and le t te r s o f
administration respectively.
85. Where a Court of Probate in any Commonwealth country,
or a British Court in a foreign country, has, either before or after
the date of commencement of this Act, granted probate or letters
of administration in respect of the estate of a deceased person, the
probate or letters so granted may, on being produced to, and a
copy thereof deposited with, the Registrar be sealed with the seal
of the Court, and thereupon shall be of the like force and effect,
and have the same operation in Trinidad and Tobago as if granted
by that Court.
Depositories for
Wills of living
persons.
Fourth
Schedule.
Interpretation.
Sealing of
probates and
letters of
administration
granted outside
Trinidad and
Tobago.
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 35
86. The Court shall, before sealing a probate or letters of
administration under this Act, be satisfied—
(a) that estate duty has been paid in respect of so
much, if any, of the estate as is liable to estate
duty in Trinidad and Tobago; and
(b) in the case of letters of administration, that
security has been given to the Registrar in a sum
sufficient in amount to cover the property if any,
in Trinidad and Tobago to which the letters of
administration relate,
and may require such evidence, if any as it thinks fit as to the
domicil of the deceased person.
87. The Court may also, if it thinks fit, on the application of
any creditor, require, before sealing, that adequate security be given
for the payment of debts due from the estate to creditors residing
in Trinidad and Tobago.
88. For the purposes of this Part of this Act, a duplicate of any
probate or letters of administration sealed with the seal of the Court
granting the same, or a copy thereof certified as correct by or under
the authority of the Court granting the same, shall have the same
effect as the original.
*PART III
FAMILY PROVISION
89.
to (Repealed by Act No. 28 of 2000).
93A.
PART IV
GENERAL
94. (1) The real and personal estate, whether legal or
equitable, of a deceased person, to the extent of his beneficial
Conditions to be
fulfilled before
sealing.
Security for
payment of
debts.
Duplicate or
copy admissible.
Real and
personal estate
of deceased are
assets for
payment of
debts.* See Note on page 2.
}
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
36 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
interest therein, and the real and personal estate of which a
deceased person in pursuance of any general power disposes
by his Will, are assets for payment of his debts (whether by
specialty or simple contract) and liabilities, and any disposition
by Will inconsistent with this enactment is void as against the
creditors, and the Court shall, if necessary, administer the
property for the purpose of the payment of the debts
and liabilities.
This subsection takes effect without prejudice to the rights of
encumbrancers.
(2) If any person to whom any such beneficial interest
devolves, or is given, or in whom any such interest vests,
disposes thereof in good faith before an action is brought or
process is sued out against him, he shall be personally liable
for the value of the interest so disposed of by him, but that
interest shall not be liable to be taken in execution in the action
or under the process.
95. The Commissioner of Inland Revenue, the Comptroller
of Accounts and the Administrator General shall at all times
have free access to all probate documents in the registry of the
Court, and any other person may, on payment of the prescribed
fee for a search, examine any Will or document, or, upon
payment therefor, obtain an office copy of a Will or document
deposited in the registry.
Access to
documents.
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 37
(Section 24).
[1/1959
16/1984].
Applications
where made.
Applications
how made.
Procedure for
probate.
SCHEDULES
FIRST SCHEDULE
NON-CONTENTIOUS BUSINESS RULES
NON-CONTENTIOUS BUSINESS SHALL INCLUDE ALL COMMON
FORM BUSINESS AS DEFINED BY THE ACT
In these Rules—
“registry” means the principal registry of the Supreme Court and unless a
contrary intention is expressed the term shall include a sub-registry;
“Act” means the Wills and Probate Act;
“Will” has the same meaning as that ascribed to it in the Act.
APPLICATIONS
1. Application for probate or letters of administration may be made at
the registry of the Supreme Court, Port-of-Spain, in all cases. Application may
also be made at either of the sub-registries in cases where the deceased, at the
time of his death, had a fixed place of abode within the district in which the
application is made, and not otherwise.
2. Such applications shall be made through an Attorney-at-law and shall
not be received by letter nor through the medium of an agent. Applications
shall not be accepted at the registry unless they bear the signature of the
Attorney-at-law who prepared the same: Provided that in applications coming
within the provisions of rule 5, the Registrar or Sub-Registrar, to whom
application is made, shall prepare the necessary papers to lead to a grant of
probate or administration, without the payment of any fees other than those
mentioned in the said rule.
3. (1) Applications for probate shall be in writing and there shall be
filed together therewith—
(a) an affidavit by the applicant in support of the said application;
(b) an affidavit by the persons attesting, or one of them, exhibiting
the Will and stating in effect that the requirements of the
Act as regards its execution have been complied with;
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
38 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
(c) a certificate of death or burial of the deceased, or a statement
in writing to the satisfaction of the Registrar for the non-
production thereof;
(d) an inventory of the particulars of the estate of the deceased,
showing the several items of property, the nature and extent
thereof and the estimated gross value set upon each and
showing also the particulars of the estate, if any, of the
deceased, situate abroad and in respect of which no grant is
required;
(e) a certificate by the Registrar or an affidavit by the party
applying or someone on his behalf that from search made in
the registry it appears that no other application for probate or
administration in the same estate has been made, and that no
Will other than that for which probate is sought is deposited in
the registry under section 83 of the Act;
(f) the certificate mentioned in subsection (3) of section 35 of the
Estate and Succession Duties Act, or the certificate mentioned
in subsection (2) or subsection (4) of section 36 of that Act.
(2) (a) The inventory shall be annexed to the affidavit of the applicant
in support of his application and he shall depose that the same comprises all the
real and personal estate of the deceased and that the value therein set out is
correct to the best of his knowledge and belief or with such exception as shall
be shown therein.
(b) There shall be excepted what the deceased shall have been
possessed of or entitled to as a trustee for any other person, but not beneficially,
and also any property therein specified which is so situate or circumstanced
as to appear incapable of immediate valuation.
(3) The application, affidavits and the inventory shall be in the
respective forms appearing in the Appendix hereto with such variations as the
case may require.
4. (1) Applications for administration shall be in writing and there shall
be filed together therewith an affidavit by the applicant in support of the said
application in which he shall depose that the deceased left no Will (or, as the
case may be, exhibiting any last Will of the deceased which the applicant desires
to have annexed to such administration) and showing the relationship or other
circumstances alleged as entitling the applicant to such administration.
(2) The provisions of rule 3 shall apply to applications for
administration except paragraph (1)(a) and (b).
Ch. 76:02.
Procedure for
administration.
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 39
5. (1) When any person shall die possessed of or entitled to estate the
value of which does not exceed the sum of four thousand eight hundred dollars,
and application has been made for a grant of administration thereto by any
person being husband, wife, child, descendant, father, mother, brother or sister
or issue of a brother or sister of the deceased or for a grant of probate by an
executor, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) On receipt of the application the Registrar shall make such
enquiries into the facts stated therein as he shall think fit and
shall report the same in writing to the Court.
(b) The Court may, if satisfied therewith, grant administration or
probate as the case may be to the applicant.
(c) The applicant shall not be required to give any security or pay
any registration or other fee, and the entire fee payable in
respect of the application and issue of administration or probate
shall be the fees set out in Part I of the Third Schedule.
(d) No certificate under subsection (3) of section 35 of the Estate
and Succession Duties Act shall be required.
(e) No inventory need be filed, but in lieu thereof the applicant
shall in his affidavit set out the information required by
rule 3(1)(d) of these rules.
(f) There shall unless the Court otherwise directs, be no
advertisement of the application as provided for in these
rules but the Registrar shall cause notice of the application to
be screened in a conspicuous place in the registry where the
application is made for a period of two weeks before the
grant issues.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Commissioners of
Affidavits Act, there shall be no fees payable to Commissioners of Affidavits in
respect of any affidavit required in respect of applications made under this rule.
(3) In the absence of an executor, a grant may be made to the persons
named and in the order of priority mentioned in section 30 of the Act.
(4) In all other respects the provisions of rules 3 and 4 of these Rules
shall apply.
6. Every Will to which an executor or administrator with the Will annexed
is sworn, must be marked by such executor or administrator and by the person
before whom he is sworn.
Procedure to
obtain probate
or
administration
in estates of
$4,800 and
under.
[16/1984].
Third Schedule.
Part I.
Ch. 76:02.
Ch. 6:52.
Will to be
marked.
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
40 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
7. In every case where probate or administration is, for the first time,
applied for after a lapse of three years from the death of the deceased, the reason
of the delay is to be certified to the Registrar. Should the certificate be
unsatisfactory, the Registrar is to require such proof of the alleged cause of
delay as he may see fit.
8. Where application is made for probate or administration by a
corporation other than the Public Trustee the officer appointed by the corporation
for such purpose shall in every case file in the registry a sealed copy of the
resolution appointing him, and shall depose, in the oath to lead to the grant, that
the charter or memorandum of association of such corporation empowers such
corporation to make such application.
9. The Registrar is not to allow probate or administration to issue until
all the enquiries which he may see fit to institute have been answered to his
satisfaction. The Registrar is, notwithstanding, to afford as great facility for the
obtaining grants of probate or administration as is consistent with a due regard
to the prevention of error or fraud.
AFFIDAVIT OF SUBSCRIBING WITNESS
10. If on perusing the affidavit of the subscribing witness it appears
that the requirements of the Act have not been complied with, the Court shall
refuse probate.
11. If the subscribing witnesses are dead, or refuse to swear to the affidavit
of execution, or if from other circumstances no affidavit can be obtained from
any of them, resort must be had to other persons (if any) who may have been
present at the execution of the Will; but if no affidavit of any such other person
can be obtained, evidence on affidavit must be procured of that fact and of the
handwriting of the deceased and the subscribing witnesses, and also of any
circumstances which may raise a presumption in favour of the due execution,
and thereupon it shall be lawful for the Court to grant probate without the filing
of an affidavit of due execution.
12. If on perusing the affidavit setting forth the facts of the case it appears
doubtful whether the Will has been duly executed, the Court may require the
parties to bring the matter before a Judge in Chambers.
13. If the testator was blind or obviously an illiterate or ignorant person,
then one of the attesting witnesses or the person who has appended the name of
the testator must by affidavit depose to the facts, and that the Will was read over
to the testator and approved by him before its execution.
Reasons for
delay.
Applications by
corporation.
Enquiries by
Registrar.
Affidavit of
subscribing
witness to show
requirements
of Act
complied with.
Where
subscribing
witnesses
dead.
Where
execution
doubtful.
Proof of
execution
where testator
blind or
illiterate.
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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14. In every case where an affidavit is made by a subscribing witness to a
Will, such subscribing witness shall depose as to the mode in which the said
Will was executed and attested.
15. The fee payable to a subscribing witness in respect of his affidavit of
the execution shall be $2.00 and he shall also be entitled to the reasonable
travelling expenses and subsistence (if any) incurred by him incidental to the
swearing of such affidavit.
INTERLINEATIONS AND ALTERATIONS
16. Interlineations and alterations are invalid unless they existed in the
Will at the time of its execution, or, if made afterwards, unless they have been
executed and attested in the mode required by the Act, or unless they have been
rendered valid by the re-execution of the Will or by the subsequent execution of
a codicil thereto.
17. When interlineations or alterations appear in the Will (unless duly
executed, or recited in, or otherwise identified by, the attestation clause) an
affidavit or affidavits in proof of their having existed in the Will before its
execution must be filed, except when the alterations are merely verbal or
when they are of but small importance and are evidenced by the initials of the
attesting witnesses.
18. Erasures and obliterations are not to prevail unless proved to have
existed in the Will at the time of its execution or unless the alterations thereby
effected in the Will are duly executed and attested, or unless they have been
rendered valid by the re-execution of the Will or by the subsequent execution of
a codicil thereto. If no satisfactory evidence can be adduced as to the time when
such erasures and obliterations were made, and the words erased or obliterated
be not entirely effaced, but can upon inspection of the paper be ascertained,
they must form part of the probate.
19. In every case of words having been erased or obliterated which might
have been of importance an affidavit must be required.
DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN WILL
20. If a Will contains a reference to any deed, paper, memorandum, or
other document, of such a nature as to raise a question whether it ought or ought
not to form a constituent part of the Will, the production of such deed, paper,
memorandum, or other document must be required, with a view to ascertain
whether it be entitled to probate; and, if not produced, its non-production must
be accounted for.
Affidavit to
show mode of
execution.
Fee to a
subscribing
witness.
When
interlineations
valid.
Proof of
interlineations.
When
obliterations
valid.
Affidavit
required.
Probate of
document
referred to
in Will.
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
42 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
21. No deed, paper, memorandum or other document can form part of a
Will unless it was in existence at the time when the Will was executed.
APPEARANCE OF THE PAPER
22. If there are any vestiges of sealing-wax or wafers or other marks upon
the testamentary papers, leading to the inference that a paper, memorandum, or
other document has been annexed or attached to the same, they must be
satisfactorily accounted for, or the production of such paper, memorandum, or
other document must be required; and, if not produced, its non-production must
be accounted for.
23. Any appearance of an attempted cancellation of a paper by burning,
tearing, obliteration, or otherwise, and every circumstance leading to a
presumption of abandonment or revocation of a paper on the part of the testator
must be accounted for.
NOTICE TO OTHER NEXT OF KIN
24. Where administration is applied for by one or some of the next of kin
only, there being another or other next of kin equally entitled thereto, the Registrar
may require proof by affidavit that notice of such application has been given to
such other next of kin.
LIMITED AND SPECIAL ADMINISTRATION
25. Limited administrations are not to be granted unless every person
entitled to the general grant has consented or renounced, or has been cited and
failed to appear, except under the direction of the Court.
26. Applications under subsection (1) of section 35 of the Act shall be
made upon motion to the Court, and the Court may require notice to be given to
persons having prior right to a grant or to such other persons as it may think fit.
A grant under this subsection may be limited as regards time or portion of the
estate or otherwise as the Court may think fit.
27. No person entitled to a general grant in respect of the estate of a
deceased person will be permitted to take a limited grant except under the
direction of the Court.
GRANTS TO AN ATTORNEY
28. In the case of a person residing out of Trinidad and Tobago,
administration may be granted to his attorney, acting under a power of attorney,
registered in the office of the Registrar General. A certified copy of such power
of attorney shall be filed with the application.
Documents
forming part
of Will.
Marks on paper
to be accounted
for.
Appearance of
cancellation to
be accounted
for.
Persons equally
entitled.
Persons entitled
to general
grant to be
cleared off.
Procedure to
obtain special
administration.
General grant
precludes
limited grant.
Power of
attorney to be
registered.
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 43
GRANTS TO GUARDIAN
29. Grants of administration may be made to guardians of minors and
infants for their use and benefit, and elections by minors of their next of kin or
next friend, as the case may be, will be required.
30. In all cases of infants under the age of fourteen years not having
a testamentary guardian, or guardian appointed by the Court, the guardian
shall be appointed by the order of the Court. For the purpose of obtaining
such appointment, an affidavit shall be filed showing that the proposed
guardian is either de facto next of kin of the infants, or that their next of kin
de facto has renounced his right to the guardianship, and is consenting to the
assignment of the proposed guardian, and that such proposed guardian is
ready to undertake the proposed guardianship.
31. Where there are both minors and infants, the guardian elected by the
minors may act for the infants without being specially assigned to them by
order of the Court, provided that the object in view is to take a grant. If the
object be to renounce a grant, the guardian shall be specially assigned to the
infants by order of the Court.
ADMINISTRATOR’S OATH
32. The oath of an administrator is to be so worded as to clear off all
persons having a prior right to the grant, and the grant is to show on the face of
it how the prior interests have been cleared off, and the oath is to set forth, when
the fact is so, that the party applying is the only next of kin or one of the next
of kin of the deceased. In all administrations of a special character the recitals
in the oath and in the letters of administration must be framed in accordance
with the facts of the case.
ADMINISTRATION BONDS
33. Administration bonds are to be attested by an officer in the registry
authorised to administer oaths, or by an Attorney-at-law, Justice of the Peace,
Notary Public, Revenue Officer or Commissioner of Affidavits. The bond shall
be prepared by an Attorney-at-law who shall certify the fact thereon. The bond
shall be filed in the Registry, Port-of-Spain.
34. In all cases of administration, except where the Court otherwise directs,
two sureties are to be required to the bond, and the bond shall be given in the
same amount as the value of the estate to be placed in the possession of, or dealt
with by, the administrator by means of the grant: Provided that the Court may in
Minors and
infants.
Appointment of
guardians.
Guardian of
minor may act
for infant.
Contents of
oath.
Preparation and
attestation of.
Amount of bond
and sureties.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
44 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
its discretion order that the bond may be given in such increased amount, not
exceeding double the amount of the value of the estate to be placed in the
possession of, or dealt with by, the administrator by means of the grant, as it
may think fit: The bond shall be in such form in use in the Probate Court in
England with such variations as are appropriate to the case, or in such other
form as in special circumstances of the case the Registrar may direct.
35. The Registrar is to take care (as far as possible) that the sureties to
administration bonds are responsible persons, and except where the Registrar
otherwise directs, the sureties to the administration bond must justify.
RENUNCIATION
36. Renunciation shall be in such of the forms set out in the Appendix
hereto or as nearly thereto as may be applicable to the case.
37. No person who renounces probate or administration of the estate of a
deceased person in one character is to be allowed to take representation to the
same deceased in another character.
AFFIDAVITS
38. Order XXXVIII of the Rules of the Supreme Court, shall apply, with
the necessary modifications, to affidavits in all matters under this Act.
39. The Registrar is not to allow any affidavit or other document to be
filed (unless by leave of the Court) which is not fairly and legibly written or
printed on good clean paper, or in which there is any interlineation of such a nature
as to cause such affidavit or other document to present an untidy appearance.
ADVERTISEMENT
40. Application for probate or administration shall be advertised in the
form in the Appendix hereto, and shall be inserted once a week for not less
than two weeks in one of the local daily newspapers and once in the Gazette.
From the date of the first advertisement three weeks shall elapse before any
application is submitted to the Court, except where the Administrator General
on behalf of the State is the applicant in which case the grant may issue at such
time as seems fit to the Court.
41. If no caveat shall have been entered in the sub-registry at which
application has been made, the Sub-Registrar shall forward the application and
other documents and a report by him to the Registrar.
Sureties to
justify.
Form of
renunciation.
Renouncing
executor or
administrator
not to take grant
in another
character.
Order 38 of
Rules of the
Supreme Court
to apply.
Documents to
be legible.
Period of
advertisement.
Procedure where
no caveat
entered in
sub-registry.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 45
CAVEATS, WARNINGS AND CITATIONS
42. Any person intending to oppose a grant of probate or administration
shall, either personally or by his Attorney-at-law, enter a caveat in the registry:
Provided, however, that if the application for a grant has been made in a sub-
registry the caveat shall be entered there and all subsequent proceedings
consequential upon such caveat shall be conducted in such sub-registry.
43. The Registrar or Sub-Registrar shall note the caveat in the Caveat
Book, and notify the Attorney-at-law of the applicant of the fact that a caveat
has been entered.
44. A caveat may be in the form set out in the Appendix hereto, but any
written document signed by the party objecting or by an Attorney-at-law on
his behalf shall be sufficient.
45. A caveat shall bear date on the day it is entered, and shall remain in
force for the space of six months only, and then expire and be of no effect; but
caveats may be renewed from time to time.
46. A caveat may be entered at any time subsequent to the application
for a grant of probate or administration and prior to the issue of the grant.
47. No grant shall be issued at any time if the Registrar has knowledge
of an effective caveat.
48. The warning to a caveat is to be left at the place mentioned in the
caveat as the address of the person who entered it and may be served by the
person requiring such issue; but it shall be sufficient for the warning of a caveat
that the Registrar or Sub-Registrar send by post a warning directed to the person
who entered the caveat at the address mentioned in it.
49. The warning to a caveat is to state the name and interest of the party on
whose behalf the same is issued, and if such party claims under a Will is also to
state the date of such Will, and is to contain an address, within three miles of the
registry or sub-registry at which any notice requiring service may be left.
The warning shall be in the form set out in the Appendix hereto and shall be
prepared by the Attorney-at-law issuing the same and signed by the Registrar
or Sub-Registrar.
50. Before any citation is signed a caveat shall be entered against any
grant being made in respect of the estate and effects of the deceased to which
such citation relates.
Where entered.
Notice of
caveat.
Form.
Expiry of
caveat.
Time for entry.
Caveats stop
issue of grant.
Warning.
Form of
warning.
Caveat to be
entered before
citation signed.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
46 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
51. In order to clear off a caveat when no appearance has been entered to
a warning duly served, an affidavit of the service of the warning, stating the
manner of the service and an affidavit of search for appearance or non-appearance
shall be filed.
52. After a caveat has been entered, the Registrar shall not proceed with
the grant of probate or administration to which it relates until it has expired or
been subducted, or until the caveat has been warned and no appearance entered,
or until the contentious proceedings consequent on the caveat have terminated.
53. No citation is to issue under seal of the Court until an affidavit, in
verification of the averments it contains, has been filed in the registry.
54. Citations are to be served in the same manner as writs of summons
issued out of the Supreme Court, when that can be done.
55. Citations and other instruments which cannot be so served shall be
served by the insertion of the same, or an abstract thereof, settled and signed by
the Registrar or Sub-Registrar as an advertisement in the Gazette and in a
newspaper or newspapers to be approved by the Registrar and at such
intervals as the Court may direct. The cost of such advertisement shall be
borne by the person at whose instance the citation is issued.
RE-SEALING OF BRITISH AND COLONIAL PROBATES
56. Application to seal a grant of probate or administration or copy thereof
under Part II of the Act shall be made in the registry, Port-of-Spain, by the
executor or administrator or the attorney of such executor or administrator either
in person or through an Attorney-at-law. Where the application is made by an
attorney the power of attorney shall be registered in the office of the Registrar
General and a certified copy thereof filed with the application.
57. On such application being made the following documents shall be
filed in the registry, Port-of-Spain:
(a) the original grant, or a duplicate, or certified or sealed copy
thereof;
(b) an exemplified copy of the Will (if any). This copy should be
made on foolscap paper;
(c) the affidavit of the executor, administrator, attorney or
Attorney-at-law in the form set out in the Appendix hereto or
as nearly thereto as circumstances of the case will allow;
How caveat
to be
cleared off.
No grant to
issue till expiry,
etc., of caveat.
Affidavit to
support citation.
Service of
citation.
Service by
advertisement.
Procedure.
Documents to
be filed.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 47
(d) a copy of the advertisement in a local daily newspaper
announcing the intention to reseal. This advertisement must
have appeared at least fourteen days previous to the lodging
of the application for resealing. The advertisement shall be in
the form set out in the Appendix hereto;
(e) the certificate required by rule 3(1)(f);
(f) if application is made by an attorney, a certified copy of the
power of attorney expressly authorising the resealing of the
grant in Trinidad and Tobago;
(g) the certificate required by rule 64 if more than three years
have elapsed since the death of the deceased.
58. The Registrar is to be satisfied that notice of such application has been
duly advertised once a week for two weeks in one of the local daily newspapers.
59. On application to seal letters of administration the administrator or
his attorney shall give bond in the form and manner set out in rules 33, 34
and 35, in an amount equal to the value of the estate within the jurisdiction of
the Court put in possession of the administrator or attorney. The same practice
as to sureties and amount of penalty in bond is to be observed as on application
for administration.
60. Application by a creditor under section 87 of the Act shall be made
by summons in Chambers supported by an affidavit setting out particulars of
the claim.
61. In every case, and especially when the domicil of the deceased at the
time of death as sworn in the affidavit differs from that suggested by the
description in the grant, the Registrar may require further evidence as to domicil.
62. If it should appear that the deceased was not at the time of death
domiciled within the jurisdiction of the Court from which the grant issued, the
seal is not to be affixed unless the grant is such as would have been made by the
Court in Trinidad and Tobago.
63. The grant (or copy grant) to be sealed must include all testamentary
papers admitted to probate.
64. When application to seal a probate or letters of administration is
made after the lapse of three years from the death of the deceased the reason
of the delay is to be certified to the Registrar. Should the certificate be
unsatisfactory, the Registrar is to require such proof of the alleged cause of
delay as he may think fit.
Advertisement.
Bonds.
Application by
creditor for
security.
Proof of
domicil.
Domicil of
deceased.
Testamentary
papers.
Reasons for
delay.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
48 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
65. Special or limited or temporary grants are not to be sealed without an
order of the Court made on summons in Chambers.
66. Notice of the sealing in Trinidad and Tobago of a grant is to be sent to
the Court from which the grant issued.
67. When intimation has been received of the resealing of a grant
issued by the Court in Trinidad and Tobago notice of the revocation of, or any
alteration in, such grant is to be sent to the Court by whose authority such grant
was resealed.
68. On a grant being resealed, the provisions of section 76 of the Act
shall apply.
MISCELLANEOUS
69. The Registrar shall not permit testamentary papers and other documents
once deposited in the Registry to be removed or taken out therefrom, unless
under special circumstances pending probate.
70. Legal advice is not to be given to applicants by officials in the registry,
either with respect to the property to be included in the particulars of the estate
or upon any other matter connected with the application, and the clerks in the
department are only to be held responsible for embodying in a proper form the
instructions given to them under rule 2 but they will as far as practicable
assist applicants by giving them information and directions as to the course
they must pursue.
71. The forms in the Appendix hereto or forms to the like effect shall be
used with such modifications as circumstances shall require; no notice or
application or other document shall be deemed void for want of conformity
with any form, provided that such document is in substantial compliance with
the requirements of the Act and of these rules, and the Registrar may in default
of such substantial compliance return such document to the person tendering
the same for such further entries or amendments as he may deem necessary.
Special grant.
Notice of entry.
Notice of
revocation.
Registration.
Testamentary
papers not to
leave Registry.
Legal advice not
to be given.
Forms.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 49
First Schedule.APPENDIX
LIST OF FORMS
1. Probate advertisement.
2. Affidavit in support of application for administration.
3. Affidavit in support of application for probate.
4. Affidavit of witness to execution of Will.
5. Affidavit of justification of sureties.
6. Affidavit to lead citation to accept or refuse administration.
7. Affidavit to lead citation to propound a Will.
8. Application for grant of administration.
9. Application for grant of probate.
10. Caveat.
11. Warning to caveat.
12. Appearance to warning or citation.
13. Citation to accept or refuse probate.
14. Citation to accept or refuse administration.
15. Praecipe for citation.
16. Administration.
17. Administration with Will annexed.
18. Probate.
19. Renunciation of probate.
20. Renunciation of executorship.
21. Renunciation of administration.
22. Inventory.
23. Affidavit to lead to the resealing of British and Colonial grants.
24. Advertisement for resealing of British and Colonial grants.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
50 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
FORM NO. 1
PROBATE ADVERTISEMENT
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Public Notice is hereby given that applications have been made for the
following grants of probate and/or administration, namely:
............................... (here specify nature of grant applied for and if for
probate of Will and/or codicil(s) or for letters of administration with Will
and/or codicil(s) annexed, give date or dates of Will and/or codicil(s)
..........................., *of or of the estate of* ......................................................
(†Name of deceased) ................. late of ........... (last known address of
deceased) .........................., deceased, who died on the ......... day of .............
20................. by ........................................................................................
†Name, address and capacity of applicant
And that unless Caveat is lodged within twenty-one days of the date of this
advertisement with the Registrar of the Supreme Court or the Sub-Registrar
through whom the above-mentioned applications have been made, Probate or
Administration, as the case may be, in respect of the said applications will be
granted accordingly.
Dated this ............................. day of .........................................., 20.............
.......................................................
Registrar
*Strike out words between asterisks which are inapplicable.
† Names in capital letters in bold type.
FORM NO. 2
AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF APPLICATION
FOR ADMINISTRATION
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of ................. late of ....................Deceased.
I [or We] ................ of ............. make oath and say as follows:
1. I [or We] desire to obtain a grant of administration of the Estate of ..............
late of ....................... deceased, who died at ........ on the ................. day of
.............., 20 .........., having a fixed place of abode at ........................ within the
Ward of ............... I am [or We are] over the age of twenty-one years.
Rule 40.
[1/1959].
Rule 4.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 51
2. I [or We]
3. Shortly after the death of the deceased I made (or caused to be made)
diligent search among the papers and effects of the deceased and also in the
depository for Wills of living persons in the Registry of the Supreme Court for
a Will or other document of a testamentary character of the deceased and found
none and verily believe that the deceased died intestate.
4. From search made in the said Registry it appears that no application for
probate or administration has been made previous to this application.
5. I [or We] will duly get in and administer the Estate of the said deceased
and pay his [or her] just debts and distribute the rest of his [or her] estate
according to law.
6. I [or We] will file in the Registry within twelve calendar months from the
date of the grant a statement and account verified by my affidavit of my
administration of the estate of the deceased.
7. The statements in the application annexed hereto are true to the best of
........................ knowledge, information and belief.
8. The inventory hereto annexed is a true inventory of the particulars of the
Estate of the deceased and the value of all the real and personal Estate and
effects of the deceased for and in respect of which a grant is required and is
exclusive of what the deceased may have been possessed of and entitled to as a
trustee for any other person or persons and not beneficially, and is also exclusive
of the property in the said inventory specified as being incapable of immediate
valuation. The gross value thereof altogether is $ ...................., to the best of
...... knowledge and belief.
Sworn by the above-named at ........ on the ............... day of .........., 20......
Before me,
Commissioner of Affidavits.
(Here show
relationship or
other
circumstances
alleged as
entitling
applicant to
administration).
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
52 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
FORM NO. 3
AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF
APPLICATION FOR PROBATE
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of ........ late of ......... Deceased.
I [or We] desire to obtain a grant of probate of the Will of ................ late of
..................... deceased, who died at .............. on the ............ day of............,
20......., having a fixed place of abode at ............... within the Ward of ........... I
am [or We are] over the age of twenty-one years.
2. I [or We]
3. The paper writing annexed hereto and marked ....... in my solemn belief
contains the last Will and testament (and codicil) of the deceased ......... No
application for probate or administration has been made previous to this
application and no Will of the deceased other than that for which probate is
now sought is deposited in the depository for Wills of living persons in the Registry.
4. I [or We] will duly get in and administer the Estate of the said deceased
and pay his [or her] just debts and legacies and distribute the rest of his estate
according to law.
5. I [or We] will file in the Registry within twelve calendar months from the
date of the grant a statement and account verified by my affidavit of my
administration of the estate of the deceased.
6. The statements in the application annexed hereto are true to the best of
........................ knowledge, information and belief.
7. The inventory hereto annexed is a true inventory of the particulars of the
Estate of the deceased and the value of all the real and personal Estate and
effects of the deceased for and in respect of which a grant is required and is
exclusive of what the deceased may have been possessed of and entitled to as a
trustee for any other person or persons and not beneficially, and is also exclusive
of the property in the said inventory specified as being incapable of immediate
valuation. The gross value thereof altogether is $ ......................., to the best of
my knowledge and belief.
Sworn by the above-named at ............ on the .......... day of .............., 20....
Before me,
Commissioner of Affidavits.
Rule 3 (1) (a).
(Capacity of
applicant).
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 53
FORM NO. 4
AFFIDAVIT OF WITNESS TO EXECUTION OF WILL
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of .................. late of .......................Deceased.
I,....................... of the .............. in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,
make oath and say as follows:
1. I was personally present on the .............. day of ............., 20 .........., together
with .................... of .........................., both of us being persons over fifteen
years of age .............. at the residence of ........ at ....... in ... and did then and
there see and hear the said ............ sign and publish his Will which said Will is
annexed to the affidavit of the executor named therein and marked “A”.
2. I and the said .................. then and there together signed and attested the
said Will as witnesses to the signing and publishing thereof by the said .............
in his presence and in the presence of each other.
3. The signature .............. at the foot of the said Will at page ......... is of the
true handwriting of the said ................. deceased.
4. The said deceased was at the time of his death of the age of ............ or
thereabouts.
5. The signatures ........... to the said Will subscribed as those of the witnesses
attesting the signing and publishing thereof by the said .... are of the true
handwriting of me this deponent and the said .......... respectively.
6. The signature of the testator to the said Will ......... was then and there
written by the hand of .................... in our presence by the direction of the testator,
and was acknowledged by the said testator in the presence of me this deponent
and of the other attesting witness the testator being unable to write his own
name owing to ........... and previously thereto the Will was read over to the
testator in my presence and the testator understood the same and approved it.
Sworn by the said ....................... at ........ on the .............day of ........., 20....
Before me,
Commissioner of Affidavits.
Note —Where the testator himself signed his Will, paragraph 6 is to be struck out.
Rule 3 (1) (b).
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
54 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
FORM NO. 5
AFFIDAVIT OF JUSTIFICATION OF SURETIES
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
We, C.D., of ...................., and E.F., of ...................., jointly and severally
make oath that we are the proposed sureties on behalf of C.H., the intended
administrator of the Estate of the said A.B., of ....................., deceased, in the
sum of ......... dollars, for his faithful administration of the said Estate, and I, the
said C.D. for myself further make oath that I am, after payment of all my just
debts, well and truly worth in real or personal Estate the sum of .................,
and I, the said E.F., for myself further make oath that I am, after payment of
all my just debts, well and truly worth in real or personal Estate the sum of
.................................. dollars.
Sworn by the above-named at ....... on the ..................... day of ........., 20....
(Signed)................ C.D.
E F.
FORM NO. 6
AFFIDAVIT TO LEAD CITATION TO ACCEPT
OR REFUSE ADMINISTRATION
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
We, C.B., of ..........................., and D.B., of ........................, make oath and
say, that A.B., of ..............., deceased, died on the .... day of ........., 20....., at
..............., intestate, without issue or parent, leaving E.B., of ................, his lawful
widow and relict him surviving:
And we further make oath and say, that the said E.B. has not taken upon her
as yet letters of administration of the Estate of the said deceased.
And we further make oath and say, that we are the lawful brothers and two of
the persons entitled to share in the Estate of the said deceased, and are desirous
of obtaining administration of the Estate of the said deceased.
And we further make oath and say, that the Estate left by the said deceased
consists of ............. [state the nature and amount of the property].
Sworn by the above-named at .... on the ..... day of ............., 20....
(Signed)................ C.B.
D.B.
Rule 35.
Rule 53.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 55
FORM NO. 7
AFFIDAVIT TO LEAD CITATION
TO PROPOUND A WILL
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
We, A.B., of ........ and C.F., of ............, make oath and say as follows:
l. That C.D., of....... , died at .........., on the .............day of .................., 20.....,
intestate, leaving H.D. his lawful widow and relict and X.D. and Y.D. his lawful
children and together the only persons entitled to his Estate in case he died intestate.
2. The said X.D. and Y.D. are now minors of the age of twelve and ten years
respectively, and we are the lawful guardians of the said minors.
3. That the said deceased left a certain paper writing, dated the .............. day
of ...................., 20.........., purporting to be a Will wherein he appointed the said
H.D. sole executrix, residuary legatee and devisee.
4. We are desirous of issuing a citation against the said H.D. to propound the
said Will or paper writing should she think it for her interest so to do, and that in
default letters of administration of the estate of the said C.D. as having died
intestate be granted to us for the use and benefit of the said X.D. and Y.D. and
until one of them attains twenty-one years of age.
Sworn by the above-named at ....... on the ...................... day of ........., 20....
(Signed)................ A.B.
C.F.
FORM NO. 8
APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF ADMINISTRATION
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
The undersigned ....... of ......... in the Ward of ....... applies for a Grant of
Administration to the Estate of the deceased.
The applicant is ................. of the deceased.
The deceased died on the ......... day of .......... at .............................
The Estate of the deceased does not exceed in gross value the sum of
$ ............... as set out in the Inventory filed herein.
Dated this .............. day of ..............., 20.............
(Signed).........................
To the Registrar of the Supreme Court.
Rule 53.
Rule 4.
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
56 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
FORM NO. 9
APPLICATION FOR PROBATE
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
The undersigned ...... of ... in the Ward of ........... applies for a Grant of Probate
of the last Will and testament of the deceased dated ...... annexed hereto.
The deceased died on the .................. day of ............, 20......, at ........................
The applicant ................... the person ........................ named in the said Will
as executor thereof.
The estate of the deceased does not exceed in gross value the sum of $ ...............
as set out in the Inventory filed herein.
Dated this .............. day of ................., 20........
(Signed).........................
To the Registrar of the Supreme Court.
FORM NO. 10
CAVEAT
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
Let nothing be done in the matter of the Estate of ............... late of.................
deceased who died on the ..........day of ............, 20....., at .......... unknown to
........... of ....................... having interest or ............... the Attorney-at-law of
...................................
Dated this .............. day of .............................., 20........
(Signed).........................
To the Registrar of the Supreme Court.
Rule 3.
Rule 44.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 57
FORM NO. 11
WARNING TO CAVEAT
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
Dated the ...... day of ..................., 20............
To ............. of ................ [or ............. of ...................., Attorney-at-law].
You are hereby warned, within six days (exclusive of Sunday) after the service
of this warning upon you, inclusive at the day of such service, to cause an
appearance to be entered for you in the ......................*Registry [or Sub-Registry]
to the Caveat entered by you in the estate of............ of .................., deceased,
who died at............, on or about the ........... day of ............, 20........., and to set
forth your [or your client’s] interest.
And take notice that in default of your so doing, the said Court will proceed
to do all such acts, matters, and things as shall be needful and necessary to be
done in and about the premises.
Issued at the instance of .........................[add the interest of ....... in the matter,
and give an address for service of notices within three miles of the Registry,
Port-of-Spain or Sub-Registry].
Registrar.
Rule 49.
*As to place of
entry see R. 41.
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
58 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
FORM NO. 12
APPEARANCE TO WARNING OR CITATION
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
Caveat ........... dated the ....... day of ...................., 20.............
Citation dated the .......... day of ..........., 20.....
In the Estate of A.B., late of ..................................
Plaintiffs (the parties warning or citing) ....... Name (in full) C.D., of
....................., and E.F., of ..............., the executors of the last Will and testament
of A. B., deceased, dated [or as the case may be].
Defendant (the party warned or cited) ................... Name (in full) G.H., of
.............. the natural and lawful and only son and only next of kin of the said
A.B. [or as the case may be].
Name and address (within three miles of the Registry, Port-of-Spain or
Sub-Registry) of Attorney-at-law or party appearing.
Dated the ................ day of ........................., 20...........
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 59
FORM NO. 13
CITATION TO ACCEPT OR REFUSE PROBATE
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
To A.B., of .....................................................
Whereas it appears by the affidavit of C.D., sworn the ......... day of ............
20......, that E.F. of .......... died on the ................. day of .............., 20....., at
............... having made and duly executed his last Will and testament dated the
.................. day of .............., 20....., and thereof appointed you, the said A.B.,
executor, but did not therein name any residuary legatee or devisee. And whereas
it further appears by the said affidavit that the said C.D. is the natural and lawful
brother and one of the next of kin of the said deceased.
Now this is to command you, the said A.B., that within eight days after service
hereof on you, inclusive of the day of such service, you do cause an appearance
to be entered for you in the Registry of the Supreme Court at Port-of-Spain and
accept or refuse probate of the said Will, or show cause why letters of
administration with the said Will annexed, of all the estate which by law devolves
to and vests in the personal representative of the said deceased, should not be
granted to the said C.D. And take notice, that in default of your so appearing
and accepting probate of the said Will, our said Court will proceed to grant
letters of administration with the said Will annexed of the said estate to the said
C.D., your absence notwithstanding.
Dated at Port-of-Spain this ............... day of .........., 20 .............,
Extracted by ................... of ....................., Attorney-at-law.
Registrar.
(Section 32).
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
60 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
FORM NO. 14
CITATION TO ACCEPT OR REFUSE ADMINISTRATION
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
To A.B., of
Whereas it appears by an affidavit of C.D., sworn the ............... day of ............,
20......, that E.F. of ........ died on the ..... day of .........., 20....., at ..................
intestate, a widower, without child or parent, leaving you the said A.B., his
natural and lawful brother and only next of kin: And whereas it further appears
by the said affidavit that the said C.D. is the lawful nephew and one of the
persons entitled in distribution to the estate of the said deceased, being the
natural and lawful son of ................., the natural and lawful sister of the said
deceased, who died in the lifetime of the said deceased:
Now this is to command you, the said A.B., that within eight days after service
hereof on you, inclusive of the day of such service, you do cause an appearance
to be entered for you in the Registry of the Supreme Court at Port-of-Spain, and
accept or refuse letters of administration of all the estate which by law devolves
to and vests in the personal representative of the said deceased, or show cause
why the same should not be granted to the said C.D., and take notice that in
default of your so appearing and accepting the said letters of administration,
our said Court will proceed to grant administration of the said Estate to the said
C.D., your absence notwithstanding.
Dated at Port-of-Spain, this ............ day of .................., 20.........
Extracted by ...... of ................, Attorney-at-law.
Registrar.
FORM NO. 15
PRAECIPE FOR CITATION
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
Citation for A.B. against C.D. in a matter calling upon C.D. to accept or
refuse letters of administration of the estate of I.K., of ................., in the Ward
of ............. who died on the ........... day of ............., 20......., at .........................
Dated this .......... day of .................., 20 ...............
(Signed) G.H.
Attorney-at-law for A.B.
(Address for Service).
(Section 32).
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 61
FORM NO. 16
ADMINISTRATION
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
On the ........... day of ..........., 20........., Letters of Administration of the Estate
of ................, late of ............ aforesaid, deceased, who died at .................., on
the ............ day of ................, 20 .................., intestate, were granted by the
Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago, to ..........................., of .......................
Dated this .......... day of .................., 20 ...............
Registrar.
FORM NO. 17
ADMINISTRATION WITH WILL ANNEXED
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
On the ............. day of .............., 20........., Letters of Administration with the
Will annexed of the Estate of ............ late of ........ aforesaid, deceased, who
died at ................, on the ........ day of .............., 20......., were granted by the
Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago, to ........................, of
..........................................
Dated this .......... day of .................., 20 ...............
Registrar.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
62 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
FORM NO. 18
PROBATE
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
The annexed Will of ...................... who died at................, on the ...... day of
....................,. 20....., was proved in the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago,
on the ................ day of ..........................., 20............., by .................................
Dated this .......... day of .................., 20 ...............
Registrar.
FORM NO. 19
RENUNCIATION OF PROBATE
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
Whereas A.B. of ......................, deceased, died on the ............ day of
.................., 20....., at.............., having made and duly executed his last Will
and testament, bearing date the .................. day of ............., 20........, and thereof
appointed his son, the undersigned C.D. sole executor.
Now I, the said C.D., do hereby declare that I have not intermeddled in the
Estate of the deceased, and will not hereafter intermeddle therein with intent to
defraud creditors, and I do hereby renounce all my right and title to the probate
and execution of the said Will.
Signed by the said C.D. this ............. day of .............., 20......., in the presence
of ......................................
Rule 36.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 63
FORM NO. 20
RENUNCIATION OF EXECUTORSHIP
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
Whereas A.B., [occupation], late of ............... in the Republic of Trinidad
and Tobago, died on the ......... day of ............, 20...., at....... having made and
duly executed his last Will dated the ...................., whereby he appointed ...........
of ........... his executor. And whereas probate of the said Will was granted by the
Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago to the said ........... on the ......... day of
.................., 20...., and the same is registered in the Protocol of Wills in Trinidad
and Tobago as No. ......... for the year 20.........
And whereas, the said [executor] died on the .............. day of ......... without
having fully administered the estate of the said [testator]. And whereas the said
[executor] by his last Will dated the ............ day of ........... appointed me [or us]
the undersigned [name] together with ....... to be the executors thereof. And
whereas probate of the said Will was granted to me [or us] the said ......... by the
Supreme Court on the ................. day of ........ and the same is registered in the
Protocol of Wills as No. ...... for the year 20.....
Now I [or we] the said ..................... do hereby declare that I [or we] have
not intermeddled with the assets or acted as the representative(s) of the said
(original testator] and I [or we] hereby renounce and disclaim being the
representative(s) of the said [original testator].
Signed by the said ...... at .......... this ......... day of ........., 20......, in the
presence of ...............................
(Section 20).
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
64 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
FORM NO. 21
RENUNCIATION OF ADMINISTRATION
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
Whereas A.B., of ................., in the Ward of ..............., deceased, died on the
................ day of .............., 20......., at .........., intestate a widower: And whereas
I, C.D., am his lawful son and the only person entitled to his estate:
Now I, the said C.D., do hereby renounce all my right and title to the letters
of administration of the estate of the said deceased.
Signed by the said C.D. this ................. day of ..................., 20......, in the
presence of ...............................
Rule 36.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 65
FORM NO. 22
INVENTORY
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
Nature, extent and estimated gross value of the Estate of the deceased referred
to in the application for Probate or Administration.
(Irrespective of debts and charges.)
Description of Property: Value
Real Estate … … … … … …
Cash in hand … … … … … …
Cash in Bank [state name of Bank or Banks and amount in each]
Furniture … … … … … ….
Share [state name of Company or Companies] … …
Mortgage debts [state particulars] … … … …
Promissory Notes [state particulars]… … … …
Policies of Insurance [state name of Companies and amount in each]
And other property [state description] … … …
Property (if any) situate abroad ... ... ... ...
Total Value … … … $
Dated this ........... day of ............., 20.........
(Signed)............................
Rule 3 (1) (d).
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
66 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
FORM NO. 23
AFFIDAVIT TO LEAD TO THE RESEALING OF
BRITISH AND COLONIAL GRANTS
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of ....................... Deceased.
I, ...................... of ..................., make oath and say:
1. That a grant of probate [or letters of administration of the Estate] of
................. late of .................., deceased, who died on the .......... day of ............,
20......, was granted to me [or A.B.] ...................., by the ..............Court at
...................., on the ............... day of ................, 20......
2. That the said deceased was at the time of his death domiciled at
................................. [the following words to be struck out if inapplicable] within
the jurisdiction of the said Court.
3. The advertisement hereto annexed was inserted in the ................ newspaper
on the .............. day of ..............., 20.......
4. That I am the attorney lawfully appointed of .................. under his hand
and seal, and am duly authorised to apply to this Court for the sealing of the
said grant.
[This paragraph to be struck out if inapplicable.]
5. That the value of the estate in .......... amounts in value to the sum of
$................. and no more, to the best of my knowledge, information and belief.
Sworn to by the above-named ................ at ............. this ............... day of
................., 20.....
Before me, ....................................
Commissioner of Affidavits
Rule 57 (c).
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 67
FORM NO. 24
ADVERTISEMENT FOR RESEALING OF
BRITISH AND COLONIAL GRANTS
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of.............. late of .......................Deceased.
Notice is hereby given that after the expiration of fourteen days from the date
here of application will be made in the Registry of the Supreme Court for the
sealing of the probate of the Will [or letters of administration of the Estate] of
............... late of ..............., deceased, granted by the ....... Court at .................
on the ............. day of ............, 20.......
Dated this ........... day of .................., 20.......
Attorney-at-law for ...............................
Rule 57 (d).
[Section 76 (2)].SECOND SCHEDULE
REGISTRAR GENERAL’S CERTIFICATE
1. (A.B.), Registrar General of Trinidad and Tobago, do hereby certify that
the annexed certified copy of ................. was received by me for registration
from the Registrar of the Supreme Court on the ...... day of ........................,
20......, at ...... o’clock in the ............. noon; and that the number of pages on
which the said certified copy is written is ................. and that the same is
registered as No. .............. in the Protocol of Wills for the year 20.....
Dated this ........... day of .................., 20.......
Registrar General.
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
68 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
THIRD SCHEDULE
PART I
FEES TO BE TAKEN BY THE REGISTRAR OF THE
SUPREME COURT, ON APPLICATIONS FOR PROBATE
OR ADMINISTRATION, AND TO SEAL BRITISH
AND COLONIAL PROBATES
$ ¢
1. Where the Estate does not exceed $480 for all fees and charges 4 80
2. Where the Estate exceeds $480 but does not exceed $1,440
for all fees and charges … … … … … 12 00
3. In all other cases—
(a) Fee on application … … … … … 7 20
(b) Fee on issue of or on resealing grant on gross value
of Estate—
Exceeding $ 1,440 and not exceeding $ 4,800 … 4 80
do. $ 4,800 do. $14,400 … 7 20
do. $14,400 do. $48,000 … 12 00
do. $48,000 … … … 24 00
PART II
REGISTRATION FEE PAYABLE TO THE
REGISTRAR GENERAL
For the registration of a Will with probate and letters of administration
(including resealing), where the Estate within Trinidad and Tobago and exclusive
of what the deceased shall have been possessed of or entitled to as a trustee for
any other person and not beneficially,
does not exceed the value of $50,000 $ 25.00
exceeds the value of $50,000 and
does not exceed the value of $100,000 $ 50.00
exceeds the value of $100,000 and
does not exceed the value of $250,000 $ 75.00
exceeds the value of $250,000 and
does not exceed the value of $400,000 $ 100.00
exceeds the value of $400,000 and
does not exceed the value of $500,000 $ 200.00
exceeds the value of $500,000 and
does not exceed the value of $750,000 $ 300.00
exceeds the value of $750,000 and
does not exceed the value of $1,000,000 $ 400.00
exceeds the value of $1,000,000 $ 500.00
(Section 24).
[16/1984
4 of 1992
77/1997].
(Section 80).
[4 of 1992].
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 69
PART III
MAXIMUM FEES CHARGEABLE BY ATTORNEYS-
AT-LAW FOR THE PREPARATION OF APPLICATIONS
FOR PROBATE OR ADMINISTRATION
IN COMMON FORM
WILLS AND PROBATE
1. The following scale of charges shall be applicable for preparing applications
for Probate or Letters of Administration in common form and for all preliminary
work done in connection therewith, including searches at the Depository of
Wills of living persons and the Probate Registry, the taking of instructions and
preparation of an inventory of Estate and attendance to obtain or reseal a Grant:
Value of Estate Scale of Charges
2. The above scale of charges shall also apply in the case of—
(a) applications for Double or cessate Probate and de bonis non;
and
(b) applications for the sealing or resealing of Probates.
3. Fees for the administration of an Estate including the calling in and
distribution of same in accordance with the directions and provisions in a Will
or in accordance with the laws upon intestacy shall be fair and reasonable and
shall be determined in accordance with the matters set out hereunder—
(a) the complexity of the matter or the difficulty or novelty of the
question raised;
(b) the skill, labour, specialised knowledge and responsibility
involved on the part of the Attorney-at-law;
(c) the number and importance of the documents prepared without
regard to length;
Five per cent of such value with
a minimum fee of $500.00
Five per cent on the first
$10,000.00 of such value and
three per cent on the excess
beyond $10,000.00
The same fee chargeable if the
value of the Estate were
$250,000.00 plus one per cent
on the excess beyond
$250,000.00
(a) Not exceeding $10,000.00
(b) Exceeding $10,000.00 and
not exceeding $250,000.00
(c) Exceeding $250,000.00
[77/1997].
[Rule 2(d)].
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
70 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
(d) the place where and circumstances in which the business or
any part thereof is transacted;
(e) the time expended by the Attorney-at-law;
(f) where money or property is involved, its amount or
value; and
(g) the importance of the matter to the client.
PART IV
(Repealed by LN 77/1997).
PART V
(Repealed by LN 77/1997).
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Wills and Probate Chap. 9:03 71
FOURTH SCHEDULE
DEPOSITORY FOR WILLS OF LIVING PERSONS
The Registry of the Court in Port-of-Spain is the depository provided for the
Wills of living persons, and testators are at liberty to deposit their Wills therein
under the following regulations:
1. The Will to be deposited must be enclosed in a sealed linen envelope
and brought into the Registry and acknowledged as that of the testator before
the Registrar or Deputy Registrar, either by the testator himself or by some
person specially authorised to deposit the same on his behalf.
2. The Will so deposited will not under any circumstances be delivered
out of the Registry nor revoked by destruction.
3. In case the testator himself deposits his Will, he will be required to
sign his name, or acknowledge his signature, in the presence of the Registrar or
Deputy Registrar, to an endorsement on the envelope in which the Will or codicil
is enclosed, to the following effect:
“This sealed packet contains the last Will and testament, or codicil to the
last Will and testament, or last Will and testament and codicil thereto,
bearing date respectively [here state the dates of all the papers enclosed]
of A.B., of, etc., whereof C.D. of, etc., and E.F. of, etc., are appointed
executors, and the same are brought into the Registry of the Supreme
Court in Port-of-Spain by me for safe custody, there to remain deposited
until after my decease.”
The residences of the testator and of the executors should be set forth in
this endorsement and also the date of the testator’s signature thereto.
4. In case the testator authorises some person to deposit his Will for him
he will be required to subscribe his name, in presence of a witness, to an
endorsement on the envelope in which the Will or codicil is enclosed, to the
following effect:
“This sealed packet contains the last Will and testament, or codicil to the last
Will and testament, or last Will and testament and codicil thereto, of me, A B.,
etc., whereof C.D. of, etc., and E.F., of, etc., are appointed executors, and I
authorise G.H. to deposit the same for safe custody in the Registry of the Supreme
Court in Port-of-Spain, there to remain deposited until after my decease.”
(Signed) A .B.
Witness K.L.
The residences of the testator and of the executors should be set forth in
this endorsement, and also the date of the testator’s signature thereto.
(Section 83).
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
72 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
The packet containing the Will must be accompanied by an affidavit of the
witness to the effect that the signature of the testator to the above endorsement,
deposed by the witness, is in the proper handwriting of such testator, and was
by him signed in the witness’s presence on the day mentioned in the endorsement,
and that the signature “ K.L.” is in the proper handwriting of the deponent. An
affidavit will also be required from the person authorised to deposit the packet,
to the effect that the packet which is produced for the purpose of being deposited
for safe custody in the Registry of the Supreme Court in Port-of-Spain, and on
the back of which the deponent has signed his name, is at the time of making
the affidavit precisely in the same state, plight and condition as when received
by the deponent from the hands of A.B. (the testator) on a day to be mentioned
as that on which he received it.
The last-mentioned affidavit is to be sworn before the Registrar or Deputy
Registrar to whom the packet containing the Will or codicil is delivered.
[For forms of affidavit see Forms A and B of Appendix hereto.]
5. In case the testator is a person of unsound mind, his Will may be
deposited for or on behalf of the Administrator General or the committee of
the person.
The Administrator General or the committee of the person, or the person
depositing the Will on his behalf, will be required to sign his name, or
acknowledge his signature in the presence of the Registrar or Deputy Registrar
to an endorsement on the envelope in which the Will is enclosed to the
following effect:
“This sealed packet contains the last Will and testament, or codicil to the
last Will and testament, or last Will and testament and codicil thereto,
bearing date respectively [here state the dates of all the papers enclosed]
of A.B., now a person of unsound mind of, etc., whereof C.D., of, etc., and
E.F. of, etc., are appointed executors, and the same are brought into the
Registry of the Supreme Court in Port-of-Spain by the Administrator
General or the committee of the person for safe custody, there to remain
deposited until after the decease of the testator.” The residences of the
testator and of the executors should be set forth in this endorsement and
also the date of the testator’s signature thereto.
6. A minute setting forth the production of the packet containing the Will,
and the affidavits (if any), and when and by whom the same were produced,
and the declaration of the testator, or his agent, that he deposited the same in the
Registry for safe custody, and also acknowledging the receipt of the packet,
will be drawn up in duplicate and will be signed by the Registrar or Deputy
Registrar. One copy of this minute will be delivered to the testator, and the
other retained in the Registry.
[For forms of minute see Forms C and D of Appendix hereto.]
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7. The following fees will be payable in stamps:
$ ¢
For depositing the Will and receipt for same … … 2 40
For drawing and entering minute of the Registrar … 0 60
For filing each affidavit ... ... … … … 0 48
8. On the death of a testator who has deposited a Will during his lifetime,
the certificate of death, and, when possible, the Registrar’s minute or certificate
on the deposit must be produced. The executors will be required to attend and
acknowledge before the Registrar or Deputy Registrar that they are the executors
named in the Will. They will be sworn to the Will (which is not delivered up)
before a Commissioner of Affidavits at the Registry. The following fees will
be payable:
$ ¢
For filing minute on opening Will ... ... ... ... 0 60
For search, if Registrar’s minute be not produced ... 0 24
[For form of minute on opening Will see Form E of Appendix
hereto.]
9. All forms and envelopes required for depositing of Wills are to be had
on application at the Registry of the Supreme Court.
DEPOSITORY FOR WILLS OF
LIVING PERSONS—Continued
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APPENDIX
FORM A
AFFIDAVIT OF AGENT AS TO HANDWRITING
(Deposit of Living Person’s Will).
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
I, A.B., of ......................., Attorney-at-law, make oath and say as follows:
1st. That, the signature ......................... at the foot of the endorsement on the
packet containing the last Will of C.D. and witnessed by me is in the proper
handwriting of the said C.D. and was by him signed in my presence on the
........... day of ....................., 20......
2nd. That the signature thereto is the proper handwriting of me this deponent.
Sworn, etc.
(Signed)...........................A.B.
FORM B
AFFIDAVIT OF AGENT AS TO STATE,
PLIGHT AND CONDITION
(Deposit of Living Person’s Will).
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
I, A.B., of .........................., Attorney-at-law, make oath and say as follows:
That the sealed packet I produce for the purpose of the same being deposited
for safe custody in the Registry of the Supreme Court in Port-of-Spain, and on
the back of which I have signed my name, is now precisely in the same state,
plight and condition as when received by me from the hands of C.D., of .............
on the ........ day of ........................, 20........
Sworn, etc.
(Signed)...........................A.B.
Fourth
Schedule.
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FORM C
MINUTE ON RECEIPT OF LIVING PERSON’S WILL
(Deposited by Testator).
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
PERSONALLY appeared A.B. of ............................who produced a sealed
packet which he declared to contain his last Will and testament with an
endorsement thereon in the words and figures following to wit:
“The ................. day of ................, 20......
“This sealed packet contains the last Will and testament of A.B., bearing
date of ............ day of .............., 20......., and the same was brought into the
Registry of the Supreme Court in Port-of-Spain by me for safe custody there
to remain deposited until after my decease,”
and subscribed in his own handwriting as he then acknowledged. And he then
declared that he deposited the said packet in this Registry for safe custody,
whereupon the said packet was received and deposited in this Registry
accordingly.
Dated the ........ day of ..............., 20........
(Signed)...........................W.F.
Registrar.
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76 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
FORM D
MINUTE ON RECEIPT OF LIVING PERSON’S WILL
(Deposited by Agent).
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
PERSONALLY appeared A.B., of .............., Attorney-at-law, who produced
a sealed packet which he declared to contain the last Will and testament of
C.D., of ............, with an endorsement thereon in the words and figures
following to wit:
“ The .................. day of ....................., 20...........
“ This sealed packet contains the last Will and testament of me, C.D.,
of............., bearing date the ............ day of ..........., 20..... and I authorise
A.B. of.............., Attorney-at-law, to deposit the same for safe custody in
the Registry of the Supreme Court in Port-of-Spain, there to remain
deposited until after my decease,”
and subscribed in his own handwriting as he then acknowledged. And he then
declared that he deposited the said sealed packet in this Registry for safe custody,
whereupon the said packet was received and deposited in this Registry
accordingly.
Dated the ........ day of ..............., 20........
(Signed)...........................W.F.
Registrar.
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FORM E
MINUTE ON OPENING WILL
DURING TESTATOR’S LIFETIME
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
IN THE SUPREME COURT
In the Estate of A.B., deceased.
APPEARED before the undersigned Registrar of the Supreme Court (C.D.)
who alleged that A.B., late of ...................., died on the ........... day of ..................,
20....... and further alleged that he was the executor named in the Will of the
said A.B., bearing date the ............... day of ............., 20......, which had been
deposited in the Registry by the deceased in his lifetime for safe custody. The
undersigned Registrar on his application ordered that the envelope containing
the said Will be opened that the appearer might be sworn as the executor
named therein.
Dated the ............... day of ............., 20........
(Signed)...........................W.F.
Registrar.
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78 Chap. 9:03 Wills and Probate
FIFTH SCHEDULE
ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES BY CONSULAR
OFFICERS OF PARTICULAR STATES
Name Title of Treaty Date of Treaty Provision
of State
Finland … Treaty of Commerce and 14th December, 1923 Article 19
Navigation between the (third
United Kingdom and paragraph).
Finland
Greece … Treaty of Commerce and 16th July, 1926 … Article 23.
Navigation between the
United Kingdom and
Greece
Hungary … Treaty of Commerce and 23rd July, 1926 … Article 14.
Navigation between the
United Kingdom and
Hungary
Japan … Treaty of Commerce and 3rd April, 1911 … Article 5.
Navigation between the
United Kingdom and
Japan
Thailand… Treaty of Commerce and 23rd November, 1937 Article 19.
Navigation between the
United Kingdom and
Siam (Thailand)
Turkey … Treaty of Commerce and 1st March, 1930 … Article 28.
Navigation between the
United Kingdom and
Turkey.
Yugoslavia Treaty of Commerce and 12th May, 1927 … Article 24.
Navigation between the
United Kingdom and
Yugoslavia
[Section 35 (2)].
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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