| |
Letters of Administration
Letters of administration (admons) are granted to give an executor the authority to administer the estate after someone has died. It generally happens when someone dies intestate, although there may be other circumstances.
Reasons for Admons
The possibilities when someone dies are summarised below. In cases two and three, a letter of administration will be granted.
- Case 1 - Your ancestor leaves a will. Probate is granted to the executors named in the will to administer the estate. There is no letter of administration, and you will be able to find the will.
- Case 2 - Your ancestor leaves a will. The executors named in the will cannot administer the estate – perhaps they died, or refused to do the job. (Or even, perhaps, your ancestor forgot to appoint executors in his will.) You will find the will with the letter of administration attached.
- Case 3 - Your ancestor dies intestate or without a valid will. If he or she left a significant amount, a court could appoint people to administer their estate. These were normally the next-of-kin or sometimes creditors. In this case, rather than a will, you would look for letters of administration (admons).
Information in Admons
Generally, letters of administration contain frustratingly little information. Typically, they include the name, address and sometimes occupation of the administrator appointed. Occasionally, you may be lucky and several family members may be named. This possibility means that it is still worth hunting out an admon.
|
