If you were to pass away without leaving no Will, then your estate will not necessarily pass to the people that you may wish to benefit.
Dying without a Will in place is called dying “intestate” and the ultimate beneficiaries of your estate will miss out on important and valuable benefits that could have been provided had you put in place a Will such as asset protection and tax minimisation opportunities like those in Testamentary Trusts.
Making an application to the Supreme Court to deal with the estate of a person who dies intestate is similar to seeking a grant of Probate but it is called applying for “Letters of Administration”. If a Will is left but fails to appoint an executor, it is “Letters of Administration with the Will Annexed” but at least then the Will would explain who you want to benefit following your death.
In addition to the Summons, Inventory of property and Affidavit of Administrator, things that need to be provided to the Court include: proof of enquiry into the existence and whereabouts of any Will; the identity of the deceased’s eligible relatives (death, birth and marriage certificates); proof of notification of the application to interested persons; an affidavit regarding the relationship status of the deceased; and possibly provision of an administration bond.
The reason for this evidence of a spouse/domestic partner is that the law provides for a formula as to how an intestate estate is to be divided and a lot depends on the marital relationship of the deceased.
Chapter 4 (sections 101-140) of the Succession Act 2006 (NSW) provide that the statutory order of inheritance in relation to an intestacy is:
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RELATIVES LEFT |
ENTITLEMENT |
|
A spouse and no children |
The spouse is entitled to the whole of the estate. |
|
A spouse and child(ren) from that relationship |
The spouse is entitled to the whole of the estate. |
|
A spouse and child(ren) from a that (or a previous) relationship |
The spouse is entitled to receive:
The spouse also has a ‘right to elect’ to acquire property from the estate. All of the deceased’s children, including children^ from previous relationships and from the current spouse (whether they are from a previous relationship or from the spouse) are entitled to equal shares of the other half of the residue. |
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Multiple spouses |
The spouses are entitled to equal shares of the estate (unless varied by Order or agreement between them). There may be more than one spouse if the deceased was married and had one or more domestic relationships/de facto spouses. Children get nothing in this case. |
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Children only (no spouse) |
The children are entitled to equal shares of the estate. If a child of the deceased has already died leaving children (ie, the deceased’s grandchildren), the grandchildren are entitled to their parent’s share in equal shares. |
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No spouse or children |
The deceased’s parents are entitled to equal shares of the estate. |
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No spouse, children or parents |
The deceased’s full and half blood brothers and sisters are entitled to equal shares of the estate. |
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No spouse, children, parents, brothers or sisters |
The deceased’s grandparents are entitled to equal shares of the estate. |
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No spouse, children, parents, brothers, sisters or grandparents |
The deceased’s full and half blood aunts and uncles are entitled to equal shares of the estate. |
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No spouse, children, parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts or uncles |
The deceased’s first cousins are entitled to equal shares of the estate. |
| No spouse, children, parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins |
The State government is entitled to the whole of the estate. |
* Adjusted by CPI. If this amount is not paid within 1 year from the date of death, the spouse is also entitled to receive interest on this amount.
^ Children who are not legally the children of the deceased (eg, step children) are not included. Adoptive children are included.
Special rules also apply in relation to indigenous persons.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Craig Pryor is principal solicitor at McKillop Legal. For further information in relation to probate, letters of administration, estate planning or business succession, contact Craig Pryor on (02) 9521 2455 or email craig@mckilloplegal.com.au.
This information is general only and is not a substitute for proper legal advice.
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