Presumption of death
40B Presumption of death
If a grant of probate or administration is made on presumption of death only, the provisions of this section shall have effect.
The grant shall be expressed to be made on presumption of death only.
The estate shall not be distributed without the leave of the Court.
The leave may be given in the grant of probate or administration or by other order, and either unconditionally or subject to such conditions as the Court deems reasonable, and in particular, if the Court thinks fit, subject to an undertaking being entered into or security being given by any person who takes under the distribution that the person will restore any money or property received by the person or the amount or value thereof in the event of the grant being revoked.
The Court may direct the executor or administrator before distributing the estate to give such notices as the Court deems proper in the circumstances, in order that the person whose death has been presumed, if the person is still living, or if the person has died since the date of the grant, then in order that any person interested in the estate may lodge with the Registrar within such time as may be specified a caveat against the distribution.
If the Court directs any such notice to be given, the executor or administrator shall not have the benefit of section 92, unless the executor or administrator complies with the direction.
If a caveat is duly lodged within such time as may be specified, the executor or administrator shall not distribute the estate until the caveat is withdrawn or removed.
An application for leave to distribute the estate and for directions may be made, and a caveat may be lodged withdrawn or removed, as prescribed by the rules, and the Court may make such order in respect of costs and otherwise as it deems proper.
The provisions of this section, with the exception of subsection (2), shall extend to a case where the grant of probate or administration was made before, as well as to a case where the grant is made after the commencement of the Wills Probate and Administration (Amendment) Act 1932, but shall not affect any distribution made before such commencement.
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