The grant of probate is a legal process that plays a crucial role in the administration of a deceased person’s estate. It provides the necessary authority for the appointed executor to manage and distribute the assets in accordance with the deceased’s will. This essay aims to provide an overview of the grant of probate in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), exploring its purpose, procedures, and significance in the local legal system.

In 2017 the British Virgin Island (“BVI”) repealed its previous probate rules and established new probate rules under the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (Non-Contentious Probate and Administration of Estate) “New Rule”) Rules 2017 that become effective as of November 2017. In essence the New Rules did not modify any substantial changes nevertheless it did modify certain aspect of “grant of probate” in the BVI and to all pending applications on the effective date and new applications made on or after the effective date irrespective of the date of death.

Purpose of the Grant of Probate

 The primary purpose of the grant of probate in the BVI is to establish the legal authority of the executor named in the deceased’s will. This document confirms the executor’s right to gather the deceased’s assets, pay off debts, and distribute the estate’s remaining assets to the beneficiaries as stipulated in the will. The grant of probate acts as an important safeguard to ensure that the executor’s actions are in accordance with the deceased’s wishes and provides transparency and legal protection throughout the estate administration process.

Background on Grant of Probate

For BVI companies, pursuant to S.245 of the BVI Business Companies Act 2004 (BCA 2004″), shares are assets deemed to be in the BVI. In essence when a shareholder passes away in case as a natural person, shares are held by that shareholder will be frozen and cannot be validly transferred to the heirs until a Grant is issued by the Probate Registry. Shares during this process cannot be transferred until the grant of probate is issued. As defined in layman language, a grant of probate is:

            When a decease passes away the leave an executed Will in respect of their BVI assets, an application for a Grant of Probate is made by the executor named in the Will. In the case the deceased is not domiciled in the BVI at the time of death, the application must be accompanied by an affidavit through a local legal practitioner from the country of domicile of the deceased confirming the Will has been validly executed according to that jurisdiction.

Required Documents for a Grant of Probate:

• an oath sworn by the Applicant
• an original or certified copy of the death certificate;
• an original or certified copy Will, if available.
• Affidavit of Foreign Law, if deceased is not domiciled in BVI;
• other certificates:
  – marriage certificate – if the deceased was married,
  – birth certificate of the deceased’s children; or any other relative, if necessary.
• Affidavit of Delay, if necessary (after three years since deceased has past away.
• Advertisement of the Grant of Probate for two (2) consecutive weeks in a local BVI newspaper. (required after application is submitted within the Registry)

All documents must be submitted in English with a certified translation.

Statute of Limitation

According to BVI regulation, no deadline exist to submit an application for a Grant, nevertheless a application brought three (3) years after the date of the deceased’s death will require an affidavit that supports the impede. The probate process can take around three (3) to six (6) months from the date of the application and must be filed within the Registry however it can be delayed in case the deceased passed away in a jurisdiction with a materially different legal system. The Probate is issued by the Registry once the application has been satisfied the Grant becomes a public document.

New Rules as of November 2017

            In regard to the new regulations as of 2017, mentions that all non-BVI domiciled deceased who died with BVI shares must:

1. Order of grant entitlement.
2. Declaration of estate value;
3. Filing an estate account;
4. Form of advertisement; and
5. New filing fee schedule

Order of grant entitlement

According to Rule 28

 For a non-BVI domiciled deceased who died leaving a will, probate may be granted to the person named as executor in the will according to rule 28(2) if the will is in the English language and is admissible to proof. For wills in languages other than English, rule 28(2) is not applicable even if an English translation of a will can be provided. For such non-English wills, whether probate may be made to a person named in a will to administer the estate depends on the actual wording used in the will. If the wording describing the duties of that person is sufficient to constitute him executor, probate may be granted to such person under rule 28(3). Otherwise, letters of administration with a will annexed should be applied for.

Declaration of estate value

            Prior to the New Rules there was no specific rule on the declaration of the BVI estate value. Regarding the New Rule 29 set out the gross value of the BVI estate to be covered by the grant. The gross value is known as the valuation range of the BVI estate without deduction of debts, encumbrances, funeral expenses, or death duties.  The value will be categorized in the following ranges:

• Below US$50,000
• US$50,000 – US$250,000
• US$250,001 – US$500,000
• US$500,001 – US$1,000,000
• US$1,000,001 – US$5,000,000
• Over US$5,000,000

Filing of an estate account

Under the previous regulations the applicant undertook to file in the Registration Office within twelve (12) months from the date of the grant a statement and account of the administration of the deceased estate. The New Rules form provides that the applicant will render a just and true account of the estate administration whenever required by law to do so.

Form of advertisement

The claimant is required to advertise the application on not less than two occasions in two weeks in a local BVI newspaper. While this requirement is the same as under the old rules, the information to be included in such advert is the following:

1.  Name of the claimant
2.  Complete Address
3. Date of death of the deceased and
4. the name and address of the applicant. No other personal information is required to be made public.

Beneficial ownership register

A grant in respect of shares in a BVI entity may require notification and updating in respect of the beneficial ownership register of the relevant BVI company. When a deceased shareholder is a beneficial owner of a BVI company for the purpose of Beneficial Ownership Secure Search System Act 2017, the natural person acting as a personal representative of the deceased’s estate will become the succeeding beneficial owner. The company is required to notify its BVI registered agent within fifteen (15) days of becoming aware of a change of any beneficial ownership information and the registered agent has a further fifteen (15) days to update its database. If the company fails to comply with the requirement without reasonable cause it is liable to a fine implemented by the Court.

Conclusion

The grant of probate in the BVI serves as a vital legal instrument in the administration of estates. It grants the executor the necessary authority to manage and distribute the deceased’s assets, while also safeguarding the interests of beneficiaries. By following the prescribed probate process, the BVI legal system ensures precision, accountability, and the fair execution of the deceased’s wishes. Understanding the significance of the grant of probate can help individuals navigate the estate administration process effectively in the BVI and provide heirs with the security to receive what has been left in their name.