Grants of representation involving minors in England and Wales: entitlement, parental responsibility, appointment of administrators, two-administrator requirement, and procedure (NCPR r 32; SCA 1981)
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It is fairly common for a minor — that is, someone under 18 (formerly termed an infant) — to have a claim to a deceased person’s estate. Yet that minor cannot obtain a grant in respect of the estate while they remain under age, for example where they have been named as an executor, or stand next in the priority order for a grant of letters of administration on intestacy, or for a grant of letters of administration with Will annexed. Consequently, subject to the circumstances, a different person must take the grant for the interim until the minor reaches 18.
What is ‘minority’
The Family Law Reform Act 1969 lowered the age of majority from 21 to 18, and that change applies to any deed, Will or other instrument (other than a statutory provision) executed on or after 1 January 1970. Where there is an intestacy and the intestate dies after 1 January 1970 so that the statutory trusts arise, the relevant age of majority is 18. By contrast, if the death was before that date, absolute vesting still occurs at 21 years. Accordingly, pre-1970 estates vest absolutely at 21 years...
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Web page updated on 21/05/2026
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Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...
I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...
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