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Wednesday, 3 October 2023

Making a claim on a deceased's estate to the Treasury Solicitor: time limits on claiming

Before you submit a claim to the Treasury Solicitor on a deceased person's estate, you need to know whether you are within the time limits.

Can you still make a claim?

Generally, a claim to an estate is 'statute barred' (no legal right) under the provisions of the Limitation Act 1980 if it is made 12 years after the administration of the estate has been completed. If the Treasury Solicitor has completed the administration of the estate, they will send you an estate account once they have received a copy of your 'Grant of Letters of Administration' to the estate. Once signed, you have agreed to what the Treasury Solicitor has done.

If a claim is received after the end of the 12-year period but within 30 years of the date of death, the Treasury Solicitor will be prepared to account for the residue as a matter of discretion but only on the understanding that no interest will be paid. If a claim is received after 30 years, the Treasury Solicitor will decline to consider the claim.

Get in touch

If you are in any doubt about how to make a claim to the Treasury Solicitor, or need any further information regarding ownerless property (bona vacantia) or the Treasury Solicitor’s requirements, then please get in touch.

Treasury Solicitor's Office (BV)
One Kemble Street
London
WC2B 4TS

Tel. 020 7210 3116/3117/3239
Fax. 020 7210 3104
Email:
bvinfo@tsol.gsi.gov.uk

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