When a person in Trinidad and Tobago dies leaving a valid will, the executor named in the will applies to the Probate Registry of the Supreme Court for a Grant of Probate. This document gives the executor legal authority to deal with the estate. The application requires the original will, a death certificate, an inventory of the estate and stamped probate forms.

When a person dies without a will — known as dying intestate — the Administration of Estates Act sets out who is entitled to apply for Letters of Administration and how the estate is to be distributed. The order of priority generally runs from spouse and children to parents and siblings. Distribution rules are fixed by statute, which means the deceased’s actual wishes — if not recorded in a will — cannot determine the outcome.

Estates with overseas elements — property held abroad, beneficiaries living abroad, or assets in multiple jurisdictions — require coordination across legal systems. This is something we handle regularly.

Estate work is detailed and meticulous work. The technical side — drafting documents that say exactly what they should say, filing applications correctly, calculating distributions accurately — is where small errors create large problems years later. We are unhurried about the documentation. Clients sometimes find this frustrating; almost always, they appreciate it later.

We are also honest about what is required emotionally. Some estate matters are simple. Others involve family members who have not spoken in years and now must agree on the disposition of property. We tell clients at the outset which type of matter we expect theirs to be.