Probate and Administration Act 1934 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 3 · Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
6. Provisions as to number of personal representatives
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At most 4 persons may get probate or letters of administration for the same property. If there is a minor beneficiary or life interest, letters of administration must go to a trust corporation or at least 2 individuals. In that case, if the sole representative is not a trust corporation, the court may appoint more on request.
Summary · Drafted with AI, checked against the official text on 30 Sep 2026.
Last amended by an amending law of 2005.
Probate or letters of administration shall not be granted to more than 4 persons in respect of the same property.
probate
“probate” means a grant under the seal of the court issuing the same, authorising the executor or executors expressly or impliedly appointed by a testator’s will, or one or more of them, to administer the testator’s estate in compliance with the directions contained in his will, and in accordance with law;
Letters of administration shall, if there is a minority or if a life interest arises under the will, be granted either to a trust corporation, with or without an individual, or to not less than 2 individuals.
letters of administration
“letters of administration” means a grant under the seal of the court issuing the same, authorising the person or persons therein named to administer an intestate’s estate in accordance with law;
The court in granting letters of administration may act on such prima facie evidence, furnished by the applicant or any other person, as to whether or not there is a minority or life interest, as may be prescribed by rules made under any written law for the time being in force relating to the courts.
If there is only one personal representative (not being a trust corporation) then, during the minority of a beneficiary or the subsistence of a life interest and until the estate is fully administered, the court may, on the application of any person interested or of the guardian, committee or receiver of any such person, appoint one or more personal representatives in addition to the existing personal representative in accordance with rules made under any written law for the time being in force relating to the courts.
This section shall apply to grants made after 1 January 1935 whether the testator or intestate died before or after that date.
For the purposes of this section, “trust corporation” means the Public Trustee or a corporation licensed as a trust company under the Trust Companies Act 2005.
Public Trustee
“Public Trustee” means the Public Trustee appointed under the Public Trustee Act 1915 and includes a Deputy Public Trustee and an Assistant Public Trustee appointed under that Act;