Consular Conventions Act 1949

1 Powers of consular officers in relation to property in England of deceased persons.

(1) Where any person who is a national of a State to which this section applies is named as executor in the will of a deceased person disposing of property in England, or is otherwise a person to whom a grant of representation to the estate in England of a deceased person may be made, then if the court is satisfied, on the application of a consular officer of the said State, that the said national is not resident in England, and if no application for a grant of such representation is made by a person duly authorised by power of attorney to act for him in that behalf, the court shall make to that officer any such grant of representation to the estate of the deceased as would be made to him if he were so authorised as aforesaid:

Provided that the court may, if it thinks fit, postpone the making of a grant by virtue of this section during such period as the court considers appropriate having regard to the circumstances of the case.

(2) Where any person who is a national of a State to which this section applies—

(a) is entitled to payment or delivery of any money or property in respect of any interest in the estate of a deceased person, or vesting in possession on the death of any person, or is entitled to payment of any money becoming due on the death of any person; or

(b) is a person to whom any money or property comprised in the estate of a deceased person may be paid or delivered in pursuance of any enactment, rule or regulation, whether passed or made before or after the commencement of this Act, authorising the payment or delivery of such money or property without representation to the estate of the deceased being granted,

then if the said national is not resident in England, a consular officer of that State shall have the like right and power to receive and give a valid discharge for any such money or property in England as if he were duly authorised by power of attorney to act for him in that behalf:

Provided that no person shall be authorised or required by this subsection to pay or deliver any money or property to a consular officer if it is within his knowledge that any other person in England has been expressly authorised to receive that money or property on behalf of the said national.

(3) A grant of administration made by virtue of this section may be made to the consular officer by his official title, and to his successors in office; and where a grant is so made, the office of administrator, and all the estate, rights, duties and liabilities of the administrator (including liabilities under the administration bond) shall be vested in and imposed on the person for the time being holding the office, and no fresh grant shall be required by reason only of the death or vacation of office of the person to whom the grant was made or in whom it is vested as aforesaid:

Provided that nothing in this subsection shall affect any limitation contained in the grant, or any power of the court to revoke the grant.

(4) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1) of section one hundred and sixty of the [15 & 16 Geo. 5. c. 49.] Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act, 1925 (which provides that in the case of a minority or a life interest administration must be granted either to a trust corporation or to not less than two individuals), administration of an estate may in any case be granted by virtue of this section to a consular officer alone; and subsection (2) of the said section one hundred and sixty (which provides for the appointment of additional personal representatives in the case of a minority or a life interest) shall not apply in any case where the existing personal representative is a consular officer appointed by virtue of this section.

(5) Without prejudice to the provisions of subsection (7) of section one hundred and sixty-seven of the Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act, 1925 (which enables probate rules and orders to dispense with sureties to administration bonds in certain cases), sureties shall not be required to an administration bond given by a consular officer upon the grant of administration by virtue of this section.