NSW Executor of Will - Wait 6 Months for Distribution?

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Dave Zammit

Member
27 June 2019
2
1
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An FAQ on the Law Society's website says:

How is an executor or trustee protected against further claims before the estate or trust can be safely distributed?
A Notice of Intention to Distribute the Estate (or Trust) should be advertised, in the prescribed form, giving at least thirty (30) days for claimants to notify the legal personal representative of their claims. Distribution should not take place until at least six months after the date of death or, if the legal personal representative has received notice of an intention to make a family provision claim which has not been commenced, at least 12 months after the date of death.
If no notice of claims against the estate have been received within 30 days of publication of the notice to distribute, should a (non beneficial) executor of will still wait six months to distribute the deceased estate? If the executor of will withheld enough of the estate to easily cater for predictable liabilities such as tax return, what are the examples of claims or liabilities that might he be exposing himself to by distributing before the 6 months has expired?


I think its important to point out that Section 93 of the Sucession Act NSW makes it clear that the time limits are :

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Dave Zammit

Member
27 June 2019
2
1
1
An FAQ on the Law Society's website says:

How is an executor or trustee protected against further claims before the estate or trust can be safely distributed?
A Notice of Intention to Distribute the Estate (or Trust) should be advertised, in the prescribed form, giving at least thirty (30) days for claimants to notify the legal personal representative of their claims. Distribution should not take place until at least six months after the date of death or, if the legal personal representative has received notice of an intention to make a family provision claim which has not been commenced, at least 12 months after the date of death.
If no notice of claims against the estate have been received within 30 days of publication of the notice to distribute, should a (non beneficial) executor of will still wait six months to distribute the deceased estate? If the executor of will withheld enough of the estate to easily cater for predictable liabilities such as tax return, what are the examples of claims or liabilities that might he be exposing himself to by distributing before the 6 months has expired?


Its important to note that S 93 of the Succession Act NSW clearly states that an executor is protected if no claim is received before 30 days has expired from the publication of the Notice of Intended Distribution, AND 6 months after the Deceased's Death. However, it wont protect if the executor was aware of a Family Provision claim against the estate.
 
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