Administration of Estates Act (Northern Ireland) 1955

1. Introductory Text

2. PART I Assimilation of real and personal estate for purposes of devolution on death and of descent on intestacy

   1. 1. Realty to devolve and descend as personalty.

   2. 2. Further assimilation of law respecting real and personal estates of deceased persons.

   3. 3. Vesting of estate before grant of administration.

   4. 4. Abolition of term “real representative” and construction of references to estates of deceased persons.

   5. 5. Construction of references to heirs.

3. PART II Distribution on intestacy

   1. 6. Rules for the distribution on intestacy.

   2. 6A. Spouse or civil partner dying within 28 days of intestate.

   3. 7. Rights of surviving spouse or civil partner.

   4. 8. Rights of issue.

   5. 9. Rights of parents.

   6. 10. Rights of brothers and sisters and their issue.

   7. 11. Rights of next-of-kin.

   8. 12. Ascertainment of next-of-kin.

   9. 13. Saving for children begotten but not born.

   10. 14. Half-blood.

   11. 15. Operation of provisions for distribution or taking per stirpes.

   12. 16. Rights of the Crown.

   13. S. 17 rep. by 1996 NI 26

   14. 18. Partial intestacy.

   15. 19. Construction of documents.

   16. Part III (ss. 20-28) rep. by 1971 c. 25; 1971...

4. PART IV Administration of assets

   1. 29. Real and personal estate of deceased are assets for payment of debts.

   2. 30. Administration of assets.

   3. 31. Charges on property of deceased to be paid primarily out of the property charged.

   4. 32. Powers of personal representatives to sell or transfer.

   5. 33. Protection of bona fide purchasers.

   6. 34. General provisions as to assent or transfer by personal representatives.

   7. 35. Special provisions as to unregistered land.

   8. S. 36 rep. with savings by 1970 c. 18 (NI)...

   9. 37. Powers of personal representative as to appropriation.

   10. 38. Power to appoint trustees of infant's property.

   11. 39. Right to follow property in hands of beneficiary.

   12. 40. Powers to deal with estate, etc.

   13. 41. Time allowed for distribution.

5. PART V Miscellaneous and general

   1. 42. Prescribed forms for reference in wills.

   2. 43. Provisions as to jurisdiction.

   3. 44. Meaning of “real estate”, etc.

   4. 45. Interpretation.

   5. S. 46(a), with Second Schedule, effects amendments; para. (b), with...

   6. 47. Savings.

   7. 48. Commencement.

   8. 49. Short title.

6. SCHEDULES

   1. FIRST SCHEDULE

      Section 30. Part I rep. by 1989 NI 19 PART II ORDER OF APPLICATION OF...

      1. Part I rep. by 1989 NI 19

      2. PART II ORDER OF APPLICATION OF ASSETS WHERE THE ESTATE IS SOLVENT

         1. 1. Property of the deceased person undisposed of by will, subject to the retention thereout of...

         2. 2. Property of the deceased person not specifically devised or bequeathed but included (either by a...

         3. 3. Property of the deceased person specifically appropriated or devised or bequeathed (either by a specific...

         4. 4. Property of the deceased person charged with, or devised or bequeathed (either by a specific...

         5. 5. The fund, if any, retained to meet pecuniary legacies.

         6. 6. Property specifically devised or bequeathed, rateably according to value.

         7. 7. Property appointed by will under a general power, rateably according to value.

         8. 8. The following provisions shall also apply— (a) The order of application may be varied by...

   2. Second Schedule—Amendments

   3. Third Schedule rep. by SLR 1973