Administration of Estates Act 1925

Summary

The Administration of Estates Act 1925 governs the administration of deceased persons' estates and sets out the intestacy rules that apply where a person dies without a valid will. It prescribes the order in which the estate is distributed to surviving relatives.

Key Points

• Sets out the intestacy rules for distribution of estates where there is no valid will (s.46)
• Surviving spouse/civil partner receives personal chattels, statutory legacy (currently £322,000), and half the residue if there are issue
• Remainder distributed to children equally (or their issue per stirpes)
• If no surviving spouse, estate passes to children, then parents, then siblings, then half-siblings, then grandparents, then aunts/uncles
• If no qualifying relatives survive, the estate passes to the Crown as bona vacantia
• Personal representatives (executors/administrators) have duty to collect assets, pay debts, and distribute the estate

Parts & Sections

Amendments History