Where a person who is serving or has served as an officer, soldier, or otherwise, in or with any of Her Majesty’s military forces, or who has received remuneration out of money provided by Parliament for army services, or who is the widow [F1widower][F2surviving civil partner] or relative of any such person, dies, and any part of the personal estate of such deceased person not exceeding in value [F3£5,000](whether arising from pay, pension, allowances, surplus property, prize money, or otherwise howsoever), is held by or under the control of a Secretary of State, then if any general or special regulations of a Secretary of State so provide, and subject to such regulations, probate, or other proof of the title of the personal representative of such deceased person may be dispensed with, and such personal estate may be paid, delivered, or distributed to or among the persons appearing in manner provided by the said regulations to be beneficially entitled to the personal estate of such deceased person, or to or among any one or more of such persons, or, in the case of any illegitimacy of the deceased person or his children, to or among such person or persons as may be directed by the said regulations, and the Secretary of State and person making such payment, delivery, or distribution, shall be discharged from all liability in respect of the personal estate paid, delivered, or distributed in accordance with the said regulations.
Textual Amendments
F1Word inserted by S.I. 1949/61 (1949 I, p. 496)
F2Words in s. 4 inserted (15.4.2005 for specified purposes, 5.12.2005 in so far as not already in force) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(8)(a), Sch. 26 para. 5; S.I. 2005/1112, art. 2, Sch. 1; S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
F3Figure substituted by virtue of Administration of Estates (Small Payments) Act 1965 (c. 32, SIF 116:1), s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I and S.I. 1984/539, art. 2(a)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Power to amend s. 4 given by Administration of Estates (Small Payments) Act 1965 (c. 32), s. 6
C2S. 4 applied with modifications by S.R. & O. 1918/548 (Rev. I, p. 896: 1918 I, p. 50)
C3Certain functions of Secretary of State under s. 4 now exercisable by Minister of Overseas Development: S.I. 1965/1528, 1970/1682 and S.I. 1974/1264
C4S. 4 applied (6.4.2005) by Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Act 2004 (c. 32), ss. 2(3), 8; S.I. 2005/356, art. 2(2), Sch. 2