Applying for Letters of Administration in Western Australia

Applicable laws

Each State has its own laws governing the administration of the estate of an intestate person. This kit will state the law as it applies in Western Australia. If the deceased was domiciled in WA and the assets are in WA then the law of WA will be the applicable law.

Applicable Court

 Applications are filed at the Probate Office of the Supreme Court of WA (contact details are provided at the back of the kit). A grant of Letters of Administration will generally be issued by the Court within 3 to 6 weeks of the application being filed unless additional information is required. If further information is needed, requests, known as requisitions, will be sent out by letter.

When does intestacy occur?

When a person dies leaving real property (land or anything attached to it) or personal property of any kind, that property must be distributed. The deceased can direct, during his or her lifetime, how the estate is to be distributed after death by drawing up a will. Intestacy occurs when either the whole or part of the deceased’s estate is not disposed of by a will. Total intestacy occurs when the deceased failed to make a will at all, failed to make a valid will or made a valid will but all the beneficiaries have since died. Partial intestacy occurs when the deceased made a valid will but the terms of the will do not dispose of the whole of the estate. This kit is aimed at the situation where the deceased dies without having made a will.

The distribution of an intestate estate

 State law allows for the appointment of an administrator to administrate the deceased’s estate in the absence of a will appointing an executor chosen by the deceased. This person is given the duty of paying any debts the estate owed and distributing the assets in accordance with the rules of intestacy. They are given legal authority to act under a court order which is known as the grant of letters of administration.

Who can apply for letters of administration?

Section 25 of the Administration Act 1903 sets out who is entitled to apply for a grant of letters of administration. An application can be made by or more of the persons entitled in distribution to the estate of the intestate. If there is no such person resident within the jurisdiction and fit to be trusted, or a person who is entitled fails to apply, the Court can grant administration to any other person even if they are a creditor. The persons who are entitled to inherit the estate of a person who has died without leaving a will are set out in the State rules if intestacy. Section 25 of the Act sets out who will be entitled to inherit in certain circumstances. These rules are explained in detail in paragraph 9 below. The application is usually made by the next of kin. 

Definition of a De facto relationship

A de facto partner of a person who dies is defined in section 13A Interpretation Act 1984 as a person who has lived in a de facto relationship. A de facto relationship is defined as a relationship (other than a legal marriage) between 2 persons who live together in a marriage-like relationship. It does not matter whether the persons are different sexes or the same sex or if either of the persons is legally married to someone else or in another de facto relationship. The following factors are indicators of whether a de facto relationship exists but are not essential:

• the duration of the relationship

• whether the two persons have resided together

• the nature and extent of common residence

• whether or not a sexual relationship exists

• the degree of financial dependence or interdependence

• ownership, use and acquisition of property

• degree of mutual commitment to a shared life

• the care and support of children

• the performance of household duties

• the reputation and public aspects of the relationship

The purpose of the State rules of intestacy

Intestacy occurs quite frequently in Australia. Government statistics reveal that in 1994 just over 10% of applications for grants in WA were made in circumstances of intestacy. The aim of the legislation in each State is to put try and produce the same sort of result as if the deceased had made a will. It identifies the deceased’s closest relatives as the main beneficiaries and assumes that these are the people that the deceased would most want to benefit. The rules make assumptions about who the deceased is closest to. The rules do not therefore take account of individual circumstances. The rules are designed to act as a safety net to protect those who have failed for whatever reason to direct what they would like to happen to their assets when they die.

An explanation of the rules of intestacy

Where the deceased died on or after 30 March 2022

A. If the deceased had children and a surviving spouse: 

1. The spouse / de facto is entitled to all the chattels (household items and personal possessions).

2. If the net value of the estate does not exceed $472,000 – the spouse/de facto gets the whole estate

3. If the net value of the estate exceeds $472,000 – the spouse/de facto gets $472,000 + interest and 1/3rd of the residue. 

4. As regards the other 2/3rds: This remainder is shared equally between the children of the deceased.

B. If there are no children but a surviving spouse OR de facto partner and also one or more of the following – parent, brother/sister, child of brother/sister (i.e. nephews/nieces):

1. The spouse / de facto is entitled to all the chattels (household items and personal possessions).

2. If the net value of the estate does not exceed $705,000 – the spouse/de facto gets the whole estate

3. If the net value of the estate exceeds $705,000 – the spouse/de facto gets $705,000 + interest and 1/2 of the residue. 

As regards the other 1/2:

Where the deceased left a parent(s):-

1. If the other ½ does not exceed $56,500 – parent(s) get all.

2. If the other ½ exceeds $56,500 – parents get ½ of the residue. 

3. The other half of the residue is divided between the brothers/sisters and nephews/nieces.

Where deceased left no parent(s):-

1. The other ½ is divided between the brothers/sisters and nephews/nieces.

Where the deceased died before 30 March 2022

A. If there are no children but a surviving spouse OR de facto partner and also one or more of the following – parent, brother/sister, child of brother/sister (i.e. nephews/nieces)

i. The spouse / de facto is entitled to all the household contents.

ii. If the net value of the estate does not exceed $75,000 – the spouse/de facto gets the whole estate

iii. If the net value of the estate exceeds $75,000 – the spouse/de facto gets $75,000 + interest and ½ the rest. 

As regards the other ½:

Where the deceased left a parent(s):-

4. If the other ½ does not exceed $6000 – parent(s) get all.

5. If the other ½ exceeds $6000 – parents get $6000 + half the remainder. 

6. The other half of the remainder is divided between the brothers/sisters and nephews/nieces.

Where deceased left no parent(s):-

2. The other ½ is divided between the brothers/sisters and nephews/nieces.

B. If the deceased had children and a surviving spouse, the spouse would receive all the household contents (meaning furniture, effects, cars, garden effects, pets, plate, plated articles, linen, china, glass, books, pictures, jewellery, ornaments, musical instruments, wines and food but not money, stocks or shares or anything used for business purposes); 

AND

If the estate is valued less than $50,000, the spouse will get the whole estate. If the estate is valued at over $50,000, the spouse will get $50,000 plus interest plus a third of the balance. The remaining two thirds will be divided between the children or in the event of their death their share will be divided amongst their children.

[NB. The interest on the $50,000 is from the date of death to the date of payment at the rate of 5% p.a.]

C. If the deceased had children and a de facto partner, and if the de facto partner had lived with the deceased continuously for over 2 years, the domestic partner would inherit in the same way as a surviving spouse as above. 

D. If the deceased left children, a spouse AND a de facto partner, then the partner’s share (meaning the first $50,000 plus interest plus a third of the reminder of the estate) would be divided between the spouse and de facto partner based on the duration of the de facto relationship prior to the death of the deceased as discussed in paragraph 6 above.

E. If the deceased left children but no surviving spouse or de facto partner, the children would inherit. If a child had died, their share would go to their children (the grandchildren).

F. If the deceased left a spouse/ de facto but no children, parent, brother / sister, child of brother / sister, the spouse or de facto will inherit the whole estate.

G. If the deceased left no spouse / de facto or children but did leave a parent(s) and one of the following namely a brother(s) / sister(s) or a child of a brother / sister (i.e. nephews / nieces):

       If the estate is worth under $6,000 then the parent(s) will inherit the whole estate

      If the estate is worth over $6,000 – the parents will get the first $6,000 and half the remainder and the siblings (brother(s) / sister(s)), nephews and nieces will share the remaining half.

H. If the deceased left a parent(s) but no spouse/de facto, children, siblings, nephews or nieces, then the parent(s) will receive the whole estate.

I. If the deceased left a brother / sister, nephew / niece but no spouse / de facto, children or parents, then the brother / sister, nephew and nieces will share the estate.

J. If the deceased left grandparent(s) but no spouse / de facto, children, parent, brother / sister, nephew / niece, then the grandparent(s) will inherit the estate.

K. If the deceased left an uncle / aunt and cousin(s) but no spouse / de facto, children, parent, brother / sister, nephew / niece, grandparents, then the uncle / aunt and cousin(s).

L. If the deceased left no spouse / de facto, children, brother / sister, nephew / niece, grandparent, uncle / aunt, cousins then the whole of the estate passes to the Crown.

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