Public Trustee Act 1978

Moneys paid or payable to the public trustee—

other than under an order under the Guardianship and Administration Act 2000 appointing an administrator or on behalf of an estate under administration; and

for or on behalf of the Crown;

Every person into whose hands or under whose control any moneys come which are payable to the public trustee shall pay the same to the public trustee as soon as practicable after their receipt and, until such moneys are paid, that person shall be deemed to be a debtor to the Crown in respect of such moneys.

The public trustee shall be deemed to acquire and hold investments made from and assets purchased out of the common fund as the property of Her Majesty and moneys referred to in subsections (1) and (2) paid or payable to the public trustee in respect of such investments shall be deemed to be secured Crown debts and for this purpose the public trustee shall be deemed to be a Crown instrumentality.