DECEASED ESTATES (WILLS, INHERITANCE AND PROTECTION)

CHAPTER 10:02
DECEASED ESTATES (WILLS, INHERITANCE AND PROTECTION)

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

    SECTION

PART I
PRELIMINARY

    1.    Short title

    2.    Application

    3.    Interpretation

    4.    Variation of customary law in relation to inheritance

PART II
WILLS

    5.    Capacity to dispose of property by will

    6.    Making of wills

    7.    Witness under will

    8.    Safe custody of wills

    9.    Revocation and alteration of wills

    10.    Effect of subsequent marriage and divorce

PART III
CONSTRUCTION OF WILLS

    11.    Intention of the testator to prevail

    12.    Where two constructions possible

    13.    Will to speak as from death

    14.    Technical words and terms not necessary

PART IV
PROVISION IN A WILL FOR THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY OF THE TESTATOR

    15.    Provision for members of immediate family not adequately provided for by will

PART V
INTESTACY

    16.    Property in respect of which there is intestacy

    17.    Principles of distribution of intestate property to immediate family and dependants

    18.    Inheritance of intestate property by other relations

PART VI
SURVIVORSHIP

    19.    Uncertainty regarding survivorship

PART VII
JURISDICTION OF COURTS AND POWERS OF CONSULAR OFFICERS

    20.    Jurisdiction of courts and powers of consular officers

    21.    Grants to Consular Officers

    22.    Chief Justice to make probate rules

PART VIII
PROTECTION OF ESTATES PENDING GRANT

    23.    Receiver pending grant

    24.    Sale by order of court

    25.    Suits against receiver

    26.    Chief Justice to make rules for application for receiver

PART IX
RENUNCIATION BY EXECUTORS

    27.    Express renunciation of right to probate

    28.    Citation and presumed renunciation

    29.    Effects of renunciation

PART X
GRANT OF PROBATE AND LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION BY THE COURT

    30.    Grants to corporations

    31.    Number of executors and administrators

    32.    Beneficiary may oppose appointment of executor or administrator

    33.    Grant of probate

    34.    Estate duty affidavit

    35.    Probate of copy, draft or contents of will

    36.    Codicil propounded after probate

    37.    Authenticated copy of will proved abroad

    38.    Effect of probate

    39.    Failure of executors

    40.    Attorney of absent executor

    41.    Attorney of person entitled to letters of administration

    42.    Codicil propounded after letters of administration granted

    43.    Letters of administration on intestacy

    44.    Attorney of person entitled to administration

    45.    Letters of administration pending production of will

    46.    Pending litigation

    47.    Trust property

    48.    Grants with exception

    49.    Grants of excepted part

    50.    Effects of grant of letters of administration or probate

    51.    Death of one of several executors or administrators

    52.    Death of sole or surviving executor or administrator

    53.    Expiry of limited grant when estate not fully administered

PART XI
REVOCATION AND ALTERATION OF GRANTS AND REMOVAL OF EXECUTOR AND ADMINISTRATOR

    54.    Rectification of errors

    55.    Revocation of grants and removal of executors or administrators

    56.    Payments by or to representatives whose grants are revoked

    57.    Surrender of revoked grants

PART XII
RE-SEALING

    58.    Sealing of certain grants made outside Malawi

PART XIII
SMALL ESTATES

    59.    Application

    60.    Exercise of jurisdiction by magistrate courts

    61.    Relatives may agree between themselves

    62.    Private land

    63.    Institutional money

    64.    Production to court of a will and court to which application may be made

    65.    Administration grant

    66.    Effects of administration grant

    67.    Death or disability of administrator

    68.    Guardians

    69.    Duties and powers of administrator or executor

    70.    Expenditure of care and management

    71.    Administrator or guardian not to derive benefit

    72.    Exercise of powers of several administrators

    73.    Disputes

    74.    Offences by administrators and guardians

    75.    Subsequent discovery that estate dealt with as small estate exceeds limit of small estate

    76.    Chief Justice to make rules on small estates

PART XIV
GENERAL

    77.    Preservation of will and register of wills

    78.    Court’s discretion in matters of probate or letters of administration

    79.    Payment of salary or wages by employers

    80.    Sane murderer not to benefit from estate of victims

    81.    Application of Trustee Act

    82.    Proof of claims

    83.    Payments to representatives in country of domicile

    84.    Unlawful possession, etc., of deceased estate

    85.    Civic awareness

    86.    Regulations

    87.    Periodic reports by executors and administrators

    88.    Offences by executors and administrators

PART XV
TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

    89.    Repeal and savings

    90.    Existing rights

    91.    Transitional

14 of 2011

An Act to provide for the making of wills and the devolution of property under a will; the inheritance to the estates of persons dying without valid wills; the protection…