QLTS OSCE List of Important Topics (Probate)

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Caveat: I created this list for the August 2020 QLTS OSCE based on what I thought were important to know. Please don’t think this is exactly what’s going to come out on your exams. I didn’t memorise the laws word for word (you don’t need to either!), just what it generally says. It’s helpful to have the section numbers and laws off the top of your head, particularly for Part One of OSCE. Note also that there may be updates on the topics, so do make sure to double check!

Open notebook with someone writing with a red pen and a glass of iced coffee

Validity of wills

  • Capacity (Mental Capacity Act, Banks v Goodfellow, Parker v Felgate)
  • Intention, knowledge and approval (Wintle v Nye)
  • Formalities (s. 9 Wills Act 1837, Rule 12 Non-Contentious Probate Rules [NCPR] 1987)
  • Doctrine of Incorporate by Reference
  • s. 20 Wills Act 1837

ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATE (GENERAL)

  • Protection of PRs (s. 27 Trustee Act 1925)
  • Information to collect in the administration of estate
  • Transfer procedure if assets are bank accounts (Administration of Estates (Small Payments) Act 1965)
  • Transfer procedure if assets are properties (s. 36(4) Administration of Estates Act [AEA] 1925)
  • Transfer procedure if assets are chattels
  • Discharge of PRs
  • Variation (s. 142 Inheritance Tax Act 1984)
  • Disclaimer
  • Procedure and rules if estate has liabilities
  • Order of application of assets where the estate is solvent (Part II, Schedule 1 AEA 1925)
  • Order of preference of debt (Schedule 6 Insolvency Act 1986)
  • Options of creditors if estate is insolvent
  • Forfeiture Rules (s. 2 Estates of Deceased Persons (Forfeiture Rule and Law of Succession) Act 2011)

Administration (intestacy)

  • Distribution order if intestate
    • Part 4 AEA 1925
    • s. 55(1)(x) AEA 1925
    • s. 47 AEA 1925
    • s. 18 Family Law Reform Act 1987
  • Statutory Trusts Rule
  • Inheritance (Provision for Families & Dependants) Act 1975)
  • Severance of Joint Tenancy (s. 36 law of Property Act 1925)
  • Donatio Mortis Causa (Strong v Bud)
  • Trustees of Will Trust
    • ss. 11, 12, 23, 1, 3, 5 Trustee Act 2000
    • s. 32 Trustee Act 1925

Grants

  • Executor if the deceased left a will (Rule 20 NCPR 1987)
  • Administrator if the deceased did not leave a will (Rule 22 NCPR 1987)
  • 3 types of grants
  • Forms for grants
  • Procedure for grant of probate
  • Renunciation by executor
  • Reservation by executor
  • Executor remuneration (s. 29 Trustee Act 2000)
  • Grant of Administration if beneficiary is a minor
  • When a copy of a will is allowed (Rule 54 NCPR 1987)
  • Inheritance Tax
  • Caveats

Administration (with will)

  • s. 20 Wills Act 1837, Cheese v Lovejoy
  • Types of Gifts
    • Demonstrative Legacies
    • s. 33 Wills Act 1837
  • Ademption (s. 15 Wills Act 1837)
  • Failure of gifts
  • Rules regarding beneficiaries in the will
    • s. 24 Wills Act 1837
    • s. 33 Wills Act 1837
    • s. 18A(1) Wills Act 1837
    • ss. 3 & 5 Children Act 1989
    • s. 42 AEA 1925
    • Commorientes Rule
    • Re Slater
    • Re Flemings
  • Gift to a witness in the will (s. 15 Wills Act 1837)
  • Appropriation (s. 41 AEA 1925)
  • Gift to a descendant in the will (s. 33 Wills Act 1837)
  • Alterations