In Australia, processing probate can take a while. The procedure is usually short and easy if you seek assistance from a professional business or local public trustee. But a few things can affect how long probate takes in Australia.
In this tutorial, we go through how lengthy probate takes and potential delays. Read on to discover more.
1. Issues with The Will
An appropriately crafted will that names executors to handle the estate and when the whereabouts of the will are known makes the Probate process much simpler. It can lower the possibility of disagreements, especially from those who aren’t delighted with the will’s provisions.
Some Will frequently spark distrust among family members. These wills often contain unclear language, resulting in disagreements and expensive legal fees associated with trying to read the Will.
The executor is occasionally not expressly named in the Will. It is more common to query whether the will has been properly executed, that is, properly signed and witnessed. The formal specifications are highly explicit in this aspect. If so, obtaining witness testimony to the will is crucial to show that it was executed correctly.
2. Death of the Personal Representative or Executor
Problems may occur when the first personal representative passes away before or after obtaining a probate in NSW grant. The executor of the decedent’s estate should assume the position of executor in this situation as a first step. The chain of representation refers to this.
The next person eligible to receive a grant will follow the priority sequence established by the rules of intestacy in cases where the deceased person’s representative was appointed following those rules.
3. Locating Family and Estate Heirs
The laws of intestacy must be obeyed if there is no will. It will be less of a problem if the surviving husband or children are the next of kin.
However, finding the family can be challenging in some situations. The necessary certificates, such as birth, marriage, or death certificates, must be produced when relatives need to be located to prove their family ties. The proper paperwork must be collected to confirm that the personal representative who is requesting to take out the Grant is the one who is authorised to do so, even if the majority of this work will be done after the grant of representation has been secured.
4. Awaiting Third Parties
It is less probable that third parties may cause delays in estates where no inheritance tax is due and which do not need to be notified to state court. When it is safe and suitable to do so, it should be possible to rely on estimations rather than allowing the process to be delayed, even if it is advised to acquire as much detail as possible before applying for the grant.
More complicated estates, especially taxable estates, may have issues. For instance, valuing corporate assets, trust interests, and international assets can take some time. It will be necessary to consider how any Will formed in another nation will affect offshore probate assets.
5. Inheritance Tax
It could be challenging to raise the inheritance tax that must be paid to the state court before the grant is issued, and this might take some time to resolve. Depending on when the decedent passed away, inheritance tax may also be required on the instalments owed on the “property” assets at this point. Inheritance tax is now due on the value of the “non-property” assets. At the end of the sixth month following the date of death, the first of the ten annual instalments is payable. When no other resources are available, a state court might be willing to issue the necessary document, resulting in a “grant on credit” in some circumstances.
6. Litigation
Disputes over a will’s legality may severely delay the estate administration.
By submitting what is known as a “caveat” at the Probate Registry, a person with an interest in an estate (i.e., someone entitled to an inheritance under another will or the rules of intestacy) may stop probate in NSW from being granted.
Although this can be contested, a delay will result. The caveat-maker may ‘back down’ if pressed if questioned. The caveat can only be lifted if they choose not to (and instead take the action known as “entering an appearance”):
7. Finding The Will
An executor must find the decedent’s Will before they may apply for a grant of probate. The executor will need to contact the person’s lawyer or audit their personal belongings and documents if the death was unexpected and they were never made aware of where they were.
8. Determining The Assets
The amount of time needed to organise the assets can vary depending on the size of the estate, its assets, and its beneficiaries. This process may take some time, depending on the state of the estate and previous estate planning.
9. Receiving Death Certificate
When certifying the death, the funeral director obtains an official death certificate. It could take several weeks to acquire the formal document, depending on how the death was registered.
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For people working in estate management, it is crucial to comprehend the causes of protracted probate procedures. It is possible to hasten the transfer of assets to beneficiaries by avoiding frequent traps like inadequate documentation, disagreements, or complex legal issues. Delays can be reduced via diligence, open communication, and legal advice, resulting in a more seamless probate process for all parties.
