Probate Court Practice, Procedure and Forms Regulations

made under Section 106 of the

Probate Act

S.N.S. 2000, c. 31

O.I.C. 2001-450 (effective October 1, 2001), N.S. Reg. 119/2001

amended to O.I.C. 2024-31 (effective April 1, 2024), N.S. Reg. 25/2024

Table of Contents

Please note: this table of contents is provided for convenience of reference and does not form part of the regulations.
Click here to go to the text of the regulations.

Part I - General

Citation

Definitions

Nova Scotia Civil Procedure Rules

Oath of registrar

Duties of registrar

Duties of deputy registrar

Office hours

Seal

Documents

Residence of deceased

Proof of execution of will other than holograph will

Proof of execution of holograph will

English translation

Date of will

Document referred to in a will

Vacated office - unfinished business

Transfer of application

Part II - Non-contentious Matters

Application of Part II

Types of grants

Limited grant

Reservation of right to apply for a grant

Subsequent grant

Grant of unadministered property

Extra-provincial grant

Applications

Renunciations

Nominations

Application for probate

Application for administration

Application for administration with the will annexed

Application for extra-provincial grant

Incomplete application

Part III - Accounting, Settlement and Distribution

Persons interested in an estate

Requirement to give accounting

Accounting not required

Application for accounting by personal representative

Application for accounting by person interested in an estate

Accounts

Notice of objection

Court powers on passing accounts

Investigation of accounts by accountant or other skilled person

Taxation of solicitor’s bill of costs

Personal representative’s commission

Part IV - Contentious Matters

Persons interested in an estate

Application respecting contentious matter

Service under this Part

Notice of objection

Procedure and powers at hearing

Production of a will

Proof of lost or destroyed wills

Revocation of grant

Proof in solemn form

Registrar as clerk of court

Appraisal

Mediation

Appeal from decision or order of registrar

Schedule A—Probate Mediation Procedure

Parties to the mediation

Appointment of mediator

Disclosure

Procedure before mediation session

Resort to other proceedings

Record

Outcome of mediation

Confidentiality

“Without prejudice” proceeding

Costs

Forms

Form 1 - Certificate of Status of a Grant

Form 2 - Affidavit of Execution of Will or Codicil

Form 2A - Affidavit Proving Execution of Holograph Will

Form 3 - Affidavit Verifying Translation

Form 4 - Order Appointing a Guardian ad Litem

Form 5 - Affidavit of Service

Form 6 - Subpoena

Form 7 - Reservation of Right to Apply for Grant of Probate

Form 7A - Reservation of Right to Apply for Grant of Administration

Form 7B - Reservation of Right to Apply for Grant of Administration with the Will Annexed

Form 8 - Application for a Grant of Probate

Form 8A - Application for a Grant of Probate (Corporate Applicant)

Form 9 - Application for a Grant of Administration

Form 9A - Application for a Grant of Administration (Corporate Applicant)

Form 10 - Application for a Grant of Administration with the Will Annexed

Form 10A - Application for a Grant of Administration with the Will Annexed (Corporate Applicant)

Form 11 - Application for Extra-Provincial Grant of Probate

Form 11A - Application for Extra-Provincial Grant of Administration

Form 11B - Application for Extra-Provincial Grant of Administrationwith the Will Annexed

Form 12 - Renunciation (Probate)

Form 13 - Renunciation (Administration)

Form 14 - Renunciation (Administration with the Will Annexed)

Form 15 - Renunciation, Nomination and Consent to Appointment of Personal Representative (Administration)

Form 16 - Renunciation, Nomination and Consent to Appointment of Personal Representative (Administration with the Will Annexed)

Form 17 - Notice of Rejection

Form 18 - Security - Bond or Policy of Guarantee of Guarantee Company

Form 19 - Security - Personal Bond and Affidavit of Justification

Form 20 - Grant of Probate

Form 21 - Grant of Administration

Form 22 - Grant of Administration with the Will Annexed

Form 23 - Extra-Provincial Grant of Probate

Form 23A - Extra-Provincial Grant of Administration

Form 23B - Extra-Provincial Grant of Administration with the Will Annexed

Form 24 - Notice to Beneficiaries (Residuary)

Form 25 - Notice to Beneficiaries (Non-Residuary)

Form 26 - Notice to Heirs (Intestacy)

Form 27 - Notice to Persons Who May Have Statutory Rights

Form 28 - Affidavit of Service - Notice of Grant

Form 29 - Inventory

Form 30 - Notice re Filing Inventory

Form 31 - Request for Advertisement

Form 32 - Notice of Claim

Form 33 - Notice of Contested Claim

Form 34 - Affidavit - Insolvent Estate

Form 35 - Order - Insolvent Estate

Form 36 - Release

Form 36A - Release Regarding Specific Gift

Form 37 - Personal Representative’s Affidavit - Accounting Not Required

Form 38 - Consent - Accounting Not Required

Form 39 - Application to Pass Accounts by a Hearing

Form 40 - Application to Pass Accounts Without a Hearing

Form 41 - Order on Passing Accounts

Form 42 - Notice of Objection to Accounts

Form 43 - Affidavit of Personal Representative - Passing Accounts

Form 44 - Notice of Taxation - Bill of Costs

Form 45 - Notice of Application

Form 46 - Affidavit

Form 47 - Notice of Objection to Application

Form 48 - Order to Produce Will

Form 49 - Order to Bring in Grant Where Revocation is Sought

Form 50 - Notice of Appeal from Registrar to Judge

Part I - General

Citation

1 These regulations may be cited as the Probate Court Practice, Procedure and Forms Regulations.

Definitions

2 In these regulations,

(a) “Act” means Chapter 31 of the Acts of 2000, the Probate Act;

(b) “applicant” means a person who makes an application pursuant to these regulations;

(d) “asset” means, for greater certainty, property, both in the Act and these regulations;

(e) “Civil Procedure Rules” means the Civil Procedure Rules made pursuant to the Judicature Act;

(f) “court” means the court of probate for a probate district and, for the purposes of Sections 85, 86 and 87 of the Act includes a probate court under either of the former Acts;

(g) “extra-provincial grant” means a grant issued pursuant to Section 37 of the Act;

(h) “former Acts” means Chapter 238 of the Revised Statutes, 1967, the Probate Act and Chapter 359 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Probate Act;

(i) “grant” means a grant of probate or administration of the estate of a deceased person made pursuant to this Act, whether granted for general, special or limited purposes and includes administration with the will annexed and an extra-provincial grant and, for the purpose of Sections 85, 86 and 87 of the Act, includes a grant of probate or administration of the estate of a deceased person made pursuant to either of the former Acts, whether granted for general, special or limited purposes and includes administration with the will annexed and a re-sealing of probate or administration and ancillary probate or ancillary administration;

(j) “hearing” means the hearing of an application pursuant to these regulations;

(ja) “holograph will” means a will wholly in the testator’s own handwriting and signed by the testator;

(k) “judge” means a judge of a court of probate;

(l) “order” includes a decree;

(m) “person under a disability” means an infant or a mentally incompetent person;

(n) “personal representative” means an executor or an administrator;

(o) “prescribed” means prescribed by these regulations;

(p) “probate district” or “district” means a probate district established by the Act;

(q) “property” means real or personal property and includes, for greater certainty, a chose in action;

(r) “registered domestic partner” means a person who has registered a domestic-partner declaration under the Vital Statistics Act;

(s) “registrar” means a registrar of probate and, for the purposes of Sections 85, 86 and 87 of the Act, includes a registrar of probate under either of the former Acts;

(t) “Supreme Court” means the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia;

(u) “trust company” means a trust company that is authorized by law to act as a personal representative;

(v) “will” includes a testament, a codicil and every other testamentary instrument of which a grant may be issued.

Nova Scotia Civil Procedure Rules

3 (1) Where any practice or procedure respecting probate is not provided for by these regulations or the Act, the Civil Procedure Rules apply.

(2) Where any practice or procedure respecting probate is not provided for by these regulations or the Civil Procedure Rules, a court may make any order or decision concerning it that it considers necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.

(3) An order or decision of a court may be forwarded to the prothonotary of the Supreme Court who shall, on receipt of it, enter it as a record of the Supreme Court, and thereupon it becomes an order of the Supreme Court enforceable pursuant to the Civil Procedure Rules.

Oath of registrar

4 (1) Pursuant to Section 11 of the Act, the following oath is prescribed to be taken and subscribed before a judge of the Supreme Court by each registrar before entering upon the duties of the office of registrar:

I, , of in the County of , do swear that I will faithfully, diligently, honestly and impartially execute the duties of the office of registrar of the Probate Court of Nova Scotia in accordance with the Probate Act and all other applicable laws of the Province.

Sworn to at

in the County of

Province of Nova Scotia, on

, 2 .

(2) Each registrar shall file a copy of the oath executed pursuant to subsection (1) with the Human Resources Division of the Department of Justice.

Duties of registrar

5 (1) Each registrar or a person designated by the Minister of Justice shall have the care and custody of all wills, documents, books, letters, transcripts, exhibits, papers and records of any kind belonging to the court.

(2) A registrar shall not release any original will on file at the court.

(3) A registrar shall, upon request, provide a certified copy of any original will on file at the court for which a grant has been issued by the court.

(4) Each registrar shall perform the following duties:

(a) keep an index of all documents filed at the office of the registrar that lists the

(i) name of the deceased,

(ii) place of residence of the deceased,

(iii) date of death of the deceased,

(iv) date of the grant,

(v) name of the personal representative, and

(vi) value of the estate,

and provides for convenient reference to any of the documents when required;

(b) number and date all applications for grants and other documents when filed;

(d) record all information and documentation

(i) filed with the court, and

(ii) issued by the court

in the appropriate court records;

(e) if an estate includes real property in the Province, forward to the appropriate Registrar of Deeds, in the case of a grant of

(i) probate or administration with the will annexed, a certified copy of the will and the grant, or

(ii) administration, a certified copy of the application for administration and the grant;

(f) record and maintain a summary of every activity and procedure with respect to each estate;

(g) sign and issue all grants in duplicate under the seal of the court;

(h) attach the affidavit exhibiting the original of any will to the duplicate of the grant retained by the registrar;

(i) attach a copy of the original of any will, certified as a true copy by the registrar, to the duplicate of the grant delivered to the personal representative;

(j) endorse the date on which the grant is issued on the back of an application for a grant and sign the back of the application.

(5) A requirement in these regulations to record and maintain information and documents shall be deemed to include a reference to the corresponding computer storage and retrieval systems provided for that purpose.

(6) A registrar may issue a certificate of status of a grant in Form 1 confirming that a grant is in force and effect.

(7) Upon revocation of a grant, the registrar shall make an entry of the revocation across the face of the grant on file in the following form:

Revoked by Court Order dated

Registrar

Duties of deputy registrar

6 (1) A deputy registrar may perform any of the duties of a registrar and all acts done by a deputy registrar shall be as valid and effectual as if done by a registrar.

(2) If a vacancy occurs in the office of a registrar, the deputy registrar shall discharge the duties of the registrar and shall have all the rights and powers of the registrar until a registrar is appointed under the Act, and all acts done by a deputy registrar during the vacancy shall be as valid and effectual as if done by a registrar.

Office hours

7 The days and hours during which the office of each registrar shall be open for the transaction of business shall be as prescribed by the Minister of Justice under the Court Officials Act.

Seal

8 (1) The seal already provided for a court shall continue to be used by the court to certify and authenticate documents respecting its proceedings.

(2) Despite subsection (1), the Governor in Council may determine and declare the seal to be used in the court by which its proceedings shall be certified and authenticated.

Documents

9 (1) All documents filed in a court shall be written on sheets of paper 21.59 cm in width and 27.94 cm in length.

(2) Despite subsection (1), a registrar may accept a document written on paper of a size other than the size set out in subsection (1).

(3) Except for wills, applications for grants, and inventories, all documents may be delivered to and filed with a court by telephone transmission in the same manner that documents may be delivered to and filed by telephone transmission with the Supreme Court, and the original signed document shall be delivered to the court.

(4) The forms contained in these regulations or any forms to the like effect that are acceptable to the registrar, shall be used for the purposes of the Act and these regulations.

Residence of deceased

10 (1) For the purpose of Section 29 of the Act and subject to subsection (2), the probate district in which the deceased resided at the time of death is deemed to be the probate district in which the deceased resided during the last 2 or more years of life.

(2) If the deceased did not reside in one probate district for 24 consecutive months prior to death, the registrar shall decide which probate district the deceased was resident in at death based on, but not limited to,

(a) the length of time the deceased resided in a probate district other than the one in which the deceased died; and

(b) the location of the deceased’s property.

Proof of execution of will other than holograph will

11 (1) This Section applies to proof of execution of wills other than holograph wills.

(1A) For an application for a grant of probate or administration with the will annexed, the due execution of the will shall be proved by an affidavit in Form 2 by one of the subscribing witnesses to the will.

(2) An affidavit in proof of execution of a will may be taken at or after the time the will is executed and either before or after the death of the testator.

(3) An affidavit in proof of execution of a will is valid if it

(a) was signed prior to the coming into force of the Act; and

(b) meets the requirements of the Act.

(4) If no affidavit in proof of execution of a will can be obtained from a subscribing witness, the due execution of the will may be proved by

(a) an affidavit attesting to the authenticity of the signature of the deceased and the signature of either of the subscribing witnesses; or

(b) an affidavit from any person present at the execution of the will who can attest to the circumstances of the execution of the will.

(5) If an applicant for a grant is unable to comply with subsection (4), the applicant may file an affidavit attesting to the efforts made to locate the subscribing witnesses or other persons present at the execution of the will, and the registrar may accept the affidavit in place of proof of execution of the will.

(6) If a will is that of a person who at the time of the execution of the will was a member on active service of the Canadian Forces, or a mariner or seafarer at sea or in the course of a voyage, and it appears that the witnesses are dead or incompetent or that the whereabouts of the witnesses are unknown, the registrar may accept such evidence as the registrar considers satisfactory as to the validity and proper execution of the will.

(7) If an applicant for a grant is having difficulty locating witnesses to a will executed by a member of the Canadian Forces referred to in subsection (6), the applicant may obtain a statement from the National Archives of Canada confirming that the deceased served in the Canadian Forces and was on active service with the Canadian Forces when the will was executed and the statement shall be sufficient proof of the execution of the will.

(8) [repealed]

(9) If a registrar, deputy registrar, notary public or barrister of the Supreme Court is not available to take an affidavit in proof of execution of a will, the person seeking to prove the execution of the will shall obtain written approval from the registrar for another person to take the affidavit.

(10) If it appears to the registrar that the execution of a will does not comply with the requirements of the Wills Act respecting wills other than holograph wills, the registrar shall refuse to approve the application for a grant respecting the will.

(11) An affidavit in Form 2 or another affidavit made under this Section in support of an application for a grant of probate or administration with the will annexed must have the original will or codicil attached and marked as an exhibit to the affidavit.

Proof of execution of holograph will

11A(1) For an application for a grant of probate or administration with the will annexed made respecting a holograph will, the due execution of the holograph will shall be proved by an affidavit in Form 2A.

(2) An affidavit in Form 2A may be taken at or after the time the holograph will is executed and either before or after the death of the testator.

(3) An affidavit in Form 2A is valid if it

(a) was signed prior to the coming into force of the Act; and

(b) meets the requirements of the Act.

(3A) An affidavit in Form 2A must have the original holograph will attached and marked as an exhibit to the affidavit.

(4) If a registrar, deputy registrar, notary public or barrister of the Supreme Court is not available to take an affidavit in Form 2A, the person seeking to prove the execution of a holograph will shall obtain written approval from the Registrar for another person to take the affidavit.

(5) If it appears to the registrar that the execution of a holograph will does not comply with the requirements of the Wills Act respecting holograph wills, the registrar shall refuse to approve the application for a grant respecting the will.

English translation

12 (1) If a will is written in a language other than English, the applicant for a grant respecting the will shall provide an affidavit in Form 3 verifying the translation of the will into English.

(2) A registrar may require any document written in a language other than English and referred to in a will to be translated into English, and where the registrar so requires, the applicant for a grant respecting the will shall provide an affidavit in Form 3 verifying the translation of the document into English.

(3) The original of the English translation of a will referred to in subsection (1) or a document referred to in subsection (2) together with the original will or document must be attached to the application for a grant respecting the will and marked as exhibits to the affidavit in Form 3.

(4) A certified copy of the English translation of a will referred to in subsection (1) or a document referred to in subsection (2) together with a certified copy of the original will or document shall be attached to the duplicate grant respecting the will delivered to the personal representative.

Date of will

13 (1) If a will is amended by a codicil or other testamentary instrument, the date of the last codicil or other testamentary instrument is deemed to be the effective date of the will.

(2) If a will is not dated or is dated imperfectly, the registrar may require one of the subscribing witnesses to provide such evidence as is satisfactory to the registrar to establish the date of execution of the will.

(3) If the evidence referred to in subsection (2) cannot be obtained, the registrar may require the applicant for a grant respecting the will to provide such evidence as is satisfactory to the registrar to establish that

(a) the will was executed between two definite dates; or

(b) a search was made and that no will of a presumably later date was found.

Document referred to in a will

14 (1) If a will refers to a document, raising a question as to whether the document ought to form part of the will, the registrar shall require production of the document and ascertain if it should form part of the will.

(2) Where a document referred to in subsection (1) is not produced, the registrar shall require that its non-production be accounted for by the applicant in a manner satisfactory to the registrar.

Directions

15 A personal representative or a person interested in an estate may apply to a court, or to the Supreme Court where Sections 45 through 55 of the Act apply, for directions for bringing any matter before the court or the Supreme Court.

Representation

16 (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person interested in an estate may act on their own behalf or be represented by a solicitor.

(2) Where a person interested in an estate is under a disability, that person shall be represented by a solicitor, court appointed guardian under the Incompetent Persons Act or the Guardianship Act, attorney appointed under the Powers of Attorney Act, the Public Trustee, where the Public Trustee consents, or a guardian ad litem appointed by the court in Form 4.

Interpreter

17 A court, in its discretion and where it considers it necessary in any proceeding, may

(a) appoint an interpreter to interpret in open court or translate or decipher any document; and

(b) make a reasonable allowance for the interpreter’s service to be paid in the first instance by the party who requires the service and ultimately to be borne by the estate, or the party against whom costs, if any, are awarded.

Court dates

18 (1) Where an application is to be heard by a registrar, the registrar shall

(a) set the date and time of the hearing;

(b) notify the applicant of the date and time of the hearing; and

(c) direct that notice of the hearing be served on the persons who are required by the Act and these regulations to be served.

(2) Where an application is to be heard by a judge, a registrar shall

(a) have the date and time of the hearing set; and

(b) notify the applicant of the date and time of the hearing; and

(c) direct that notice of the hearing be served on the persons who are required by the Act and these regulations to be served.

Orders

19 Each order of a court granted by a judge or registrar shall be marked accordingly.

Adjournment

20 A registrar or judge may adjourn the hearing of any matter.

Failure to appear

21 Where a person has been given notice of an application or other proceeding and does not attend the hearing arising from the application or other proceeding, the hearing may proceed despite the failure of the person to attend.

Service

22 (1) Unless service is otherwise specified in these regulations, service of all notices and other documents required to be served under these regulations shall be by personal service, registered mail, service on a lawyer authorized to accept service on behalf of a person or such other means as directed by a registrar or a court.

(2) Substituted service shall be in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules.

(3) Where any provision in these regulations specifies that service is to be effected by ordinary mail, the notice or other document to be served shall be sent to the most recent address given to the court.

(4) Where a person entitled to share in the distribution of an estate is a person under a disability, all notices and other documents required to be served under these regulations shall be served on a parent, guardian, court appointed guardian, or attorney under the Powers of Attorney Act, for that person.

(5) Proof of service shall be

(a) by affidavit in Form 5 or by a method acceptable to the court, and where service is by registered mail the Canada Post registration receipt shall be attached; and

(b) filed with the court.

Subpoenas

23 (1) A court may issue a subpoena in Form 6 to require the attendance of a witness or the production of any document material to the matter pending before the court.

(2) A subpoena issued by a court

(a) may include the names of any number of witnesses; and

(b) shall be served by personal service on each witness named on the subpoena.

(3) No person is bound to appear or give evidence pursuant to a subpoena unless the person is paid or tendered witness fees in the amount of $5.00 plus $0.20/km one way from the place of residence of the person to the place of the hearing not less than 4 days before the date set for the hearing.

Vacated office - unfinished business

24 If a registrar or judge dies or otherwise vacates office,

(a) every proceeding and matter pending and all unfinished business before that registrar or judge may be taken up, carried on and disposed of by another registrar or judge or the successor of the registrar or judge who vacates office, and no new application or other proceeding is necessary in that case;

(b) evidence taken before that registrar or judge in any matter that has been heard and not determined or partly heard by that registrar or judge, may be used in a subsequent hearing, and the taking of the evidence again is not necessary;

(c) all orders that were pronounced but not drawn up or sealed by that registrar or judge may be drawn up and sealed by another registrar or judge or the successor of the registrar or judge who vacates office.

Transfer of application

25 Where an application pursuant to the Act is made to a registrar and the registrar intends to transfer it to a judge in accordance with Section 99 of the Act, the registrar shall not hear any evidence or make any determination but shall refer the matter to the judge and notify the applicant of the transfer.

Part II - Non-contentious Matters

Application of Part II

26 (1) This Part applies to all non-contentious business.

(2) For the purposes of this Part, non-contentious business means the obtaining of a grant where there is no contention as to the right to the grant and includes

(a) the obtaining of a grant in contentious cases where the contest has been concluded; and

(b) all non-contentious matters relating to testacy and intestacy that are not proceedings under Part IV.

Types of grants

27 The following grants may be applied for under this Part:

(a) grants that are unlimited and unrestricted, including

(i) a grant of probate,

(ii) a grant of administration,

(iii) a grant of administration with the will annexed;

(b) grants that are for a limited time, including a grant of administration during the minority, absence or mental incompetence of the personal representative;

(i) a grant of unadministered property,

(ii) an extra-provincial grant;

(d) grants that are for a particular purpose only, including

(i) a grant where the validity of a will is in question,

(ii) a grant for the purpose of litigation,

(iii) a grant for the preservation of property,

(iv) a grant limited to a specific matter.

Limited grant

28 (1) An applicant for a grant that is to be limited in any manner shall ensure that the limitation is clearly indicated on the application.

(2) If a grant is limited in any manner, the registrar shall ensure that the limitation is clearly indicated on the grant.

Reservation of right to apply for a grant

29 A person entitled to apply for a grant who does not do so at the time the initial application for the grant is made, may reserve the right to apply at a future time by filing Form 7, 7A or 7B with the court at the time the initial application for the grant is made.

Subsequent grant

30 (1) An applicant for a subsequent grant shall surrender the original grant with the application for the subsequent grant prior to a subsequent grant being issued by a registrar.

(2) If the original grant is lost, an applicant for a subsequent grant shall submit a copy of the original grant, certified by the registrar, with the application for the subsequent grant.

Grant of unadministered property

31 (1) Upon the death of an administrator, a person entitled to a grant under Section 32 of the Act may apply for a grant of administration of the unadministered property of the intestate person.

(2) Upon the death of an executor, an application may be made to a court for a grant to complete the administration of the unadministered property of a testate person by the following persons in the following priorities:

(a) first - an alternate executor named in the testate person’s will who is willing and able to act; or

(b) second - an executor of the deceased executor who is appointed by the court; or

(3) A person who is entitled to a grant under Section 32 of the Act may apply for a grant of administration with the will annexed of the testate person’s unadministered property in either of the following circumstances:

(a) the personal representative of the testate person is discharged or removed;

(b) the executor of the testate person is discharged or removed.

(4) An applicant shall file the same form of application under subsection (1), (2) or (3) as filed in the original application for a grant but shall modify it to include

(a) details of the original grant; and

(b) details of the death, discharge or removal of the first personal representative.

(5) An inventory setting out the unadministered property of the deceased as of the date of the application for the grant respecting the unadministered property shall be filed by the personal representative within 3 months from the date of a grant of unadministered property whether or not an inventory was filed under the original grant.

(6) If the first grant was advertised in the Royal Gazette, a second advertisement is not required.

(7) An application under subsection (1), (2) or (3) shall be accompanied by security and probate taxes, if required under the Act.

Extra-provincial grant

32 (1) In this Section, “extra-provincial grant” means a grant issued by the court in respect of a grant or an order to the like effect made by an authority outside the Province.

(2) If a grant or order made by an authority outside the Province does not appoint a personal representative, a registrar may appoint a personal representative in accordance with Section 32 of the Act.

(3) If evidence as to the law of any country or territory outside the Province is required by the court respecting an application for an extra-provincial grant, the registrar may accept

(a) an affidavit of any person who, having regard to the particulars of the person’s knowledge or experience given in the affidavit, the registrar regards as suitably qualified to give expert evidence of the law in question; or

(b) evidence of the court or authority outside the Province that issued the grant.

(4) Unless the court dispenses with the giving of security pursuant to Section 40 of the Act, the registrar shall not issue an extra-provincial grant until security has been given to the court in a sum sufficient to cover the assets of the deceased in the Province in the amount that the court would require if the application were for an original grant.

(5) The inventory filed pursuant to Section 57 of the Act for an extra-provincial grant shall include only the assets of the deceased in the Province.

Applications

33 (1) An application for a grant of probate shall be in Form 8 or 8A.

(2) An application for a grant of administration shall be in Form 9 or 9A.

(3) An application for a grant of administration with the will annexed shall be in Form 10 or 10A.

(4) An application for an extra-provincial grant shall be in Form 11, 11A or 11B.

(5) Despite subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4), where a prescribed form is not appropriate for an application for a specific grant, the applicant for the grant may file an application in a form acceptable to the registrar.

(6) If there is more than one applicant for a grant, joint or separate applications may be used.

(7) All applications shall be accompanied by a covering letter indicating the number of certified copies of the grant and certificates of status required.

Renunciations

34 (1) An executor who wishes to renounce the right to apply for a grant in accordance with Section 19 of the Act, shall do so by completing Form 12 or by another method satisfactory to the registrar.

(2) An executor whose right to act is alternate to another, shall state in an application for a grant that the executor having a prior right has renounced, or died, as the case may be, and the renunciation in Form 12 or proof of death satisfactory to a registrar shall be attached to the application for the grant.

(3) A person who is entitled in priority or equally to be named a personal representative under Section 32 of the Act who is unable or unwilling to apply for a grant, shall renounce the right to apply for the grant by

(a) completing Form 13, for a grant of administration; or

(b) completing Form 14, for a grant of administration with the will annexed,

or by another method satisfactory to a registrar.

(4) If a person with a prior or equal right to a grant under Section 32 of the Act has not renounced the right to apply for a grant in accordance with this Section or where there is a contest over the right to administer an estate, an applicant for a grant shall make an application under Section 64 and may include an application in the form prescribed in Section 33 with that application.

(5) A registrar shall not issue a grant unless

(a) any renunciation required pursuant to this Section has been filed with the registrar by the applicant for the grant; or

(b) an order has been made dispensing with the need for any renunciation that has not been filed.

Nominations

35 (1) A nomination of a person as administrator of all or part of the property of a deceased person pursuant to subsection 32(4) of the Act shall be in Form 15 or 16 or by another method satisfactory to the registrar and shall require the consent of the Public Trustee.

(2) A registrar shall not issue a grant to a nominee administrator pursuant to subsection 32(4) of the Act unless

(a) a renunciation, nomination and consent in Form 15 or 16 signed by each person who is entitled to nominate an administrator under subsection 32(4) of the Act and the Public Trustee has been filed; or

(b) an order has been made dispensing with the need for any renunciation and nomination that has not been filed and the consent of the Public Trustee has been filed.

Application for probate

36 An application for a grant of probate shall be accompanied by

(a) the original will exhibited in the following applicable proof of execution of the will:

(i) for a will other than a holograph will, an affidavit of execution of the will in Form 2 or such other evidence of due execution of the will as is required under Section 11, or both,

(ii) for a holograph will, an affidavit in Form 2A or such other evidence of due execution of the will as is required under Section 11A, or both;

(b) proof of death satisfactory to the registrar;

(d) a renunciation in Form 12 from each living person who is named in the will as an executor and who has not joined in the application, if applicable;

(e) the security required under the Act, if applicable; and

(f) payment of the probate tax required under the Act,

and such additional or other material as the registrar directs.

Application for administration

37 An application for a grant of administration shall be accompanied by

(a) proof of death satisfactory to the registrar;

(b) a renunciation in Form 13 from each person who is entitled in priority or equally to be named as an administrator under Section 32 of the Act and has not joined in the application, if applicable;

(c) the nomination of the applicant to their appointment in Form 15 signed by each person who is entitled to nominate an administrator under subsection 32(4) of the Act and the Public Trustee, if applicable;

(d) the security required under the Act; and

(e) payment of probate tax required under the Act,

and such additional or other material as the registrar directs.

Application for administration with the will annexed

38 An application for a grant of administration with the will annexed shall be accompanied by

(a) the original will exhibited in the following applicable proof of execution of the will:

(i) for a will other than a holograph will, an affidavit of execution of the will in Form 2 or such other evidence of due execution of the will as is required under Section 11, or both,

(ii) for a holograph will, an affidavit in Form 2A or such other evidence of due execution of the will as is required under Section 11A, or both;

(b) proof of death satisfactory to the registrar;

(d) a renunciation in Form 12 from each person who is named in the will as executor and who has not joined in the application, if applicable;

(e) a renunciation in Form 14 from each person who is entitled in priority or equally to a grant under Section 32 of the Act and who has not joined in the application, if applicable;

(f) the nomination of the applicant to their appointment in Form 16 signed by each person who is entitled to nominate an administrator under subsection 32(4) of the Act and the Public Trustee, if applicable;

(g) the security required under the Act, if applicable; and

(h) payment of the probate tax required under the Act,

and such additional or other material as the registrar directs.

Application for extra-provincial grant

39 An application for an extra-provincial grant shall be accompanied by

(a) 2 certified copies of the original grant or order to the like effect under the seal of the court that granted it and a certificate under the seal of that court stating that the original grant or order is still in effect;

(b) 2 certified copies of the will, if applicable;

(d) an affidavit of translation in Form 3, if applicable;

(e) the security required under the Act, if applicable; and

(f) payment of the probate tax required under the Act,

and such additional or other material as the registrar directs.

Incomplete application

40 If an application for a grant or material required to accompany the grant are incomplete, the registrar may issue a notice of rejection in Form 17 by ordinary mail to the applicant.

Value of estate

41 (1) For the purposes of the taxes collected under the Act and the security and inventory required under the Act, the “value of the estate” means the value of the assets of a deceased person calculated on

(a) the gross value of the personal property of the deceased; and

(b) the fair market value of the real property of the deceased less the amount of any mortgages and encumbrances registered against the real property at the Registry of Deeds for the probate district in which the real property is located,

that passes by a will or wills, or that transfers or will be transferred to a trust under a will or wills, whether or not the trust described in the will is described as being separate from the estate, or that passes upon intestacy.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a mobile home is deemed to be personal property.

(3) An estate shall be valued as of the date of the death of the deceased.

(4) Where a court has reason to believe that the value of the estate exceeds the sum stated in the inventory, the court may inquire into the matter.

Security

42 (1) The security required under the Act shall be

(a) a bond or policy of guarantee of a guarantee company as defined in the Sureties Act, in Form 18;

(b) a personal bond and affidavit of justification in Form 19; or

or other security satisfactory to the registrar.

(2) The security referred to in subsection (1) shall

(a) be made to the registrar; and

(b) be in an amount equal to 1.5 times the value of the estate.

(3) A personal bond referred to in clause (1)(b) shall require

(a) one surety if the value of the estate is $100 000 or less, unless the registrar otherwise directs;

(b) at least 2 sureties if the value of the estate exceeds $100 000, unless the registrar otherwise directs.

(4) The registrar may allow more than 1 bond or other security to be given so as to limit the liability of a surety, but the total value of all securities given shall be equal to the amount of the security required pursuant to clause 2(b).

(5) A personal surety shall be resident in the Province and shall

(a) personally, if the personal surety is the only surety; or

(b) together with the other surety or sureties, if there is more than one surety, have property of a value equal to or greater than the amount of the security required under clause (2)(b) over and above the total amount of all mortgages and encumbrances registered against the property at the Personal Property Registry or the Registry of Deeds for the district in which the property is located.

(6) No personal representative of a deceased person or spouse of a personal representative of a deceased, shall be a surety for the estate of the deceased.

(7) The registrar may, after considering the interests of the persons who have a financial interest in an estate, reduce the amount of security required pursuant to clause 2(b).

(8) On application by a person interested in an estate and on being satisfied that a condition of a bond or other security for the estate has been breached, the registrar may make an order to assign the bond or other security to a person named in the order.

(9) The person to whom a bond or other security is assigned under subsection (8) and their heirs and personal representatives are entitled to the same rights under the bond or other security as if the bond or other security had been originally given to that person.

(10) On application by a person interested in an estate and on being satisfied that the security for the estate has become inadequate or insufficient, the registrar may order the estate’s personal representative to provide alternate or additional security.

(11) If a non-resident executor wishes for a court to dispense with the giving of security pursuant to subsection 40(3) of the Act, the non-resident executor shall file with the court

(a) an affidavit containing the names of all persons who are or may be beneficially interested in the estate of the deceased and stating that all these persons are competent adults; and

(b) the consent to the dispensation of each person referred to in clause (a).

Forms of grants

43 (1) A grant of probate shall be in Form 20.

(2) A grant of administration shall be in Form 21.

(3) A grant of administration with the will annexed shall be Form 22.

(4) An extra-provincial grant shall be in Form 23, 23A or 23B.

Notice of grant

44 (1) A personal representative of an estate shall, within 30 days after a grant has been issued, serve notice of the grant to each person who is or may be entitled to share in the distribution of the estate, in the appropriate form as follows:

(a) Form 24 - Notice to Beneficiaries (Residuary);

(b) Form 25 - Notice to Beneficiaries (Non-Residuary);

(d) Form 27 - Notice to Persons Who May Have Statutory Rights.

(2) Proof of service of a notice pursuant to subsection (1) shall be in Form 28 and shall be filed by a personal representative of the estate within 60 days after the grant for the estate has been issued.

(3) Despite subsection (2), the time for serving notice of the grant and filing proof of service may be extended, at the discretion of the registrar.

Inventory

45 (1) The inventory of the property of the deceased which is required by Section 57 of the Act to be filed within 3 months after a grant has been issued, shall be filed by the personal representative in Form 29.

(2) A supplemental inventory required to be filed by Section 58 of the Act shall be in Form 29 with any necessary modifications.

46 (1) A notice pursuant to subsection 57(2) of the Act requiring a personal representative to file an inventory shall be in Form 30.

(2) A notice referred to in subsection (1) shall be sent by ordinary mail to the personal representative or to the lawyer representing the personal representative.

(3) If a personal representative fails to comply with the notice referred to in subsection (1), the court may make an order pursuant to subsection 57(3) of the Act for the personal representative to file the inventory.

(4) If a personal representative fails to file an inventory after an order is made pursuant to subsection 57(3) of the Act, a person may make application to the court to remove the personal representative pursuant to clause 61(1)(a) of the Act.

47 A personal representative of an estate who is advertising the estate information in accordance with subsection 63(1) of the Act shall do so in Form 31 upon issuance of the grant for the estate.

Claimants

48 (1) A creditor or claimant shall

(a) file with the court their claim against an estate in Form 32; and

(b) serve the personal representative of the estate with a copy of their claim, as filed,

within the advertising period prescribed by subsection 63(1) of the Act.

(1A) A creditor or claimant must file an affidavit of service in Form 5 with the court within 10 days of serving a notice of claim.

(2) A creditor or claimant who has not complied with subsection (1) may make a claim against an estate only with the prior consent of the court.

(3) If a personal representative of an estate does not agree with all or part of the claim of a creditor or claimant against the estate, the personal representative shall

(a) file with the court a notice of contested claim in Form 33; and

(b) serve the creditor or claimant with a copy of the notice of contested claim

within 30 days of being served with the claim.

(3A) A personal representative must file an affidavit of service in Form 5 with the court within 10 days of serving a notice of contested claim.

(4) A creditor, claimant or personal representative whose claim against an estate is contested may have the claim dealt with

(a) on the passing of the accounts of the personal representative and the settlement and distribution of the estate under Part III; or

(b) by commencing an application for an order under Part IV by filing with the court and serving on the respondent

(i) a notice of application in Form 45, and

(ii) affidavit in Form 46.

Bad debts

49 After an estate has been advertised for the required time period in accordance with subsection 63(1) of the Act, the personal representative of the estate may file an affidavit with the court, containing

(a) a schedule of bad or doubtful debts including the particulars of dates, names and amounts; and

(b) the particulars of the efforts to collect the debts and confirmation that the debts are unlikely to be collectable.

50 Upon the application of a personal representative of an estate or a person interested in an estate, the court may make an order

(a) for the equitable division of the bad debts referred to in Section 49 among the creditors and those persons entitled to benefit from the estate; or

(b) appointing one or more persons to make the division referred to in clause (a), subject to confirmation by the court; or

Insolvent estates

51 (1) The personal representative of an estate may apply for an order declaring the estate to be insolvent after the estate has been advertised for the required period of time in accordance with subsection 63(1) of the Act, by filing an affidavit in Form 34 and making an application for an order passing the accounts of the estate in accordance with Section 55.

(2) [repealed]

(3) [repealed]

(4) [repealed]

(5) For the purposes of clause 83(3)(d) of the Act and subject to Section 68 of the Act, “medical expenses” includes private nursing and home care expenses of the deceased.

Part III - Accounting, Settlement and Distribution

Persons interested in an estate

52 (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person interested in an estate is, for the purposes of this Part, any

(a) residuary beneficiary;

(b) unpaid non-residuary beneficiary;

(d) life tenant;

(e) trustee, guardian, court-appointed guardian or attorney appointed under the Powers of Attorney Act for a person under a disability;

(f) trustee, guardian, court-appointed guardian or attorney appointed under the Powers of Attorney Act for a missing person or unascertained person;

(g) the Public Trustee, where the Public Trustee Act applies;

(h) unpaid claimant or creditor who has filed a claim in accordance with Section 48;

(i) unreleased security;

(j) personal representative.

(2) A person who has signed a release in Form 36 is not, for the purposes of this Part, a person interested in an estate.

Requirement to give accounting

53 (1) A personal representative of an estate shall give the court an accounting of the administration of the estate by applying in accordance with Section 55 for an order passing the accounts of the estate

(a) within 18 months of the date of the grant unless the court orders an extended period;

(b) when the personal representative desires to be discharged pursuant to subsection 61(2) of the Act; or

(2) Before a personal representative of an estate is removed by a court order pursuant to Section 61 of the Act, the personal representative shall account for the administration of the estate up to the time of their removal, in accordance with Section 55.

(3) If a personal representative fails to comply with subsection (1) or (2), the court may order a personal representative to pay the costs of, and incidental to, an independent accounting of the administration of the estate.

Accounting not required

54 Despite Section 53, if a personal representative of an estate determines that an accounting of the administration of the estate is not required, in accordance with subsection 69(3) of the Act, the personal representative shall file an affidavit in Form 37 and the applicable releases in Forms 36 and 36A with the court together with all required consents in Form 38 in lieu of an application to the court for an order to pass the accounts of the estate.

Application for accounting by personal representative

55 (1) A personal representative of an estate who is applying for an order pursuant to subsection 53(1) shall file with the court

(a) an application in Form 39 for a passing of accounts by a hearing or Form 40 for a passing of accounts without a hearing;

(b) the accounts;

(d) the proposed order for passing the accounts in Form 41.

(2) Upon receiving an application under subsection (1), the registrar shall set the date and time for passing the accounts of the estate, which shall be not less than 45 days from the date of receipt of the application.

(3) Upon filing an application pursuant to subsection (1), a personal representative shall serve

(a) a copy of the application filed pursuant to subsection (1);

(b) a copy of the accounts; and

on each person interested in the estate not less than 30 days before the date set to pass the accounts.

(4) A personal representative or proctor shall file an affidavit respecting the application filed pursuant to subsection (1) in Form 43 with the court not less than 10 days before the date set for passing the accounts.

(4A) The proctor may file an affidavit in Form 43 respecting the duties performed by the proctor.

(5) Where no completed notice of objection is filed with the court pursuant to Section 58, an application under this Section may proceed, without further notice.

Application for accounting by person interested in an estate

56 (1) After the expiration of 18 months from the date of the grant or such longer period as the court may have allowed for an accounting to be provided pursuant to subsection 69(1) of the Act, a person interested in an estate may apply to the court for an order requiring the personal representative to apply to have the court pass the accounts of the estate.

(2) A person making an application pursuant to subsection (1) shall file an application pursuant to Section 64.

(3) A beneficiary of a specific gift under a will is entitled to an accounting in respect of that gift only but once the gift has been received by the beneficiary, the beneficiary is no longer entitled to that accounting.

(4) Despite subsection (1), upon application by an interested person, the court may allow an application less than 18 months from the date of the grant.

Accounts

57 (1) A personal representative of an estate shall keep accurate records of all property and debts of the estate and all activity in the estate.

(2) The accounts of an estate shall include

(a) a statement of all property of the deceased at the beginning of the accounting period;

(b) a statement of all adjustments to the value of the property of the deceased during the accounting period;

(d) a statement of all disbursements made during the accounting period for the payment of any debts or expenses incurred;

(e) a statement of all distributions made during the accounting period;

(f) a statement of all property remaining undistributed and the proposed distribution of that property;

(g) a statement of the commission sought for the personal representative, if any;

(h) a solicitor’s proposed bill of costs, if any; and

(i) a statement summarizing the statements listed in clauses (a) through (h).

(3) A statement referred to in clause 2(b) or (c) shall contain

(a) the date of receipt of all adjustments and income;

(b) the source of all adjustments and income; and

(4) A statement referred to in clause 2(d) or (e) shall contain

(a) the date of each disbursement or distribution;

(b) the name of the recipient of each disbursement or distribution;

(d) the amount or value disbursed or distributed in each case.

(5) If a will deals separately with capital and income, the accounts shall distinguish entries respecting capital from entries respecting income.

(6) A court may require further particulars of any account presented to the court.

Notice of objection

58 (1) If a person interested in an estate objects to the accounts of the administration of the estate or any part of the accounts, the person shall, not less than 10 days before the date set for passing the accounts, file a notice of objection in Form 42 with the court and serve a copy of the notice of objection on the personal representative of the estate.

(2) If a notice of objection is filed pursuant to subsection (1), the application to pass the accounts shall proceed by a hearing.

(3) If a person has not filed and served a notice of objection in accordance with subsection (1), the person

(a) is deemed to have consented to the administration of the estate as contained in the accounts; and

(b) may only make representations at any scheduled hearing with the permission of the court.

Court powers on passing accounts

59 (1) On passing the accounts of an estate, a court may, in addition to the powers set out in Sections 71 and 72 of the Act,

(a) reject documents not filed or served in accordance with Section 55;

(b) direct a personal representative of the estate to vary or amend the accounts of the estate;

(c) set the commission for a personal representative of the estate in accordance with Section 76 of the Act and give any direction in that respect;

(d) approve the compensation of an accountant or other skilled person appointed pursuant to Section 74 of the Act;

(e) require the production of bank or other financial statements or any documents relating to the administration of the estate; and

(f) require the production of vouchers, receipts and releases for all debts paid and expenditures and distributions made during the accounting period for the estate;

(g) make a final order declaring the estate to be insolvent;

(h) adjudicate a disputed matter in accordance with Sections 66 or 71 of the Act, and set the procedure the parties shall follow and time limits, if appropriate.

(2) Despite clause (1)(f), the registrar, in the registrar’s discretion, may allow any item of expenditure or distribution without the production of a voucher, receipt or release, upon the filing of an affidavit in support of the expenditure or distribution.

(3) An order made by a court pursuant to Section 72 of the Act and this Section shall be in Form 41.

Investigation of accounts by accountant or other skilled person

60 (1) An accountant or other skilled person who is appointed pursuant to Section 74 of the Act to investigate the accounts of an estate shall be a chartered accountant, a certified general accountant, a certified management accountant, or an accountant acceptable to a court.

(2) A court shall determine the nature, scope and extent of the duties of an accountant referred to in subsection (1) and the time within which their investigation is to be completed.

(3) Any person having knowledge of or possession of documents relating to the administration of an estate shall make the records or other pertinent documents available to an accountant referred to in subsection (1) and shall cooperate fully with the accountant.

(4) An accountant referred to in subsection (1) shall at the conclusion of their investigation file a report respecting their investigation with the court and send a copy of the report by ordinary mail to a personal representative of an estate.

(5) The court may require an accountant referred to in subsection (1) to appear at a hearing and give any further explanations the court may require to pass the accounts of an estate.

Taxation of solicitor’s bill of costs

61 (1) The taxation of a solicitor’s bill of costs in relation to an estate of a deceased person pursuant to Section 91 of the Act may be conducted prior to or upon an application for passing the accounts of an estate.

(2) If the taxation of a solicitor’s bill of costs is dealt with separately from passing the accounts of an estate, the registrar shall be provided, not less than 10 days before the taxation, with a notice of taxation in Form 44 and a copy of each bill of costs to be taxed, together with

(a) proof that the personal representative and the persons listed in clauses 52(1)(a) through (h) were served with a copy of each bill of costs and the notice of taxation at least 30 days before the taxation; or

(b) written consents to the solicitor’s bill of costs from the personal representative and the persons listed in clauses 52(1)(a) through (h).

(3) On taxation of a solicitor’s bill of costs the registrar may

(a) receive evidence by affidavit or orally;

(b) direct the production of books, papers and documents; or

(4) A decision of a registrar in a taxation of a solicitor’s bill of costs may be appealed to a judge.

Personal representative’s commission

62 (1) A commission paid to a personal representative of an estate pursuant to Section 76 of the Act is for all services performed by the personal representative to complete the administration of the estate including distribution of the estate.

(2) A compensation agreement reached by a testator and a proposed personal representative is not binding on a court or the beneficiaries of the testator unless it is incorporated in the testator’s will.

(3) In deciding the amount of the commission to allow to a personal representative pursuant to Section 76 of the Act, a court may consider the following:

(a) the size of the estate;

(b) the care and responsibility involved in administering the estate;

(d) the skill and abilities shown by the personal representative;

(e) the success resulting from the personal representative’s administration of the estate.

Part IV - Contentious Matters

Persons interested in an estate

63 (1) Subject to Section 71, a person interested in an estate is, for the purposes of this Part,

(a) a personal representative of an estate; or

(b) any of the persons referred to in subsection 52(1).

(2) A court may order a group of persons with identical interests to be a class of persons interested in an estate.

Application respecting contentious matter

64 (1) An application may be made to a court under this Part respecting any contentious matter.

(2) For the purposes of this Part, a “respondent” includes but is not limited to any person interested in an estate.

(3) A person interested in an estate may commence an application under this Part by filing with a court and serving on the respondents

(a) a notice of application in Form 45; and

(b) an affidavit in Form 46 containing a list of persons interested in the estate and swearing to the facts on which the application is based.

(4) If a personal representative is not joined as an applicant in an application under this Part, the personal representative shall be shown as a respondent in documents filed with the court.

Service under this Part

65 (1) A copy of an application filed with a court pursuant to subsection 64(3) shall be served on a respondent not less than 30 days before the hearing.

(2) Despite subsection (1) a court may set a date for a hearing and permit an application to be served less than 30 days before the hearing if, in the opinion of the court, the circumstances warrant it.

(3) If a person interested in the estate is a missing person, an applicant shall serve the Public Trustee with a copy of an application filed pursuant to subsection 64(3).

(4) If the identity or address of a person interested in the estate is unascertainable, an applicant shall serve the Public Trustee with a copy of an application filed pursuant to subsection 64(3).

Notice of objection

66 (1) A person who is served with an application pursuant to Section 65 or 71 and who wishes to object to the application shall

(a) file a notice of objection in Form 47 with the court giving reasons for their objection; and

(b) not less than 10 days before the hearing, serve a copy of the notice of objection filed pursuant to clause (a) on all of the following people:

(i) the personal representative,

(ii) each person interested in the estate,

(iii) the applicant;

(2) If a person does not file and serve a notice of objection in accordance with subsection (1), the person

(a) is not entitled to notice of any further proceedings; and

(b) may only make representations at the scheduled hearing with the permission of the court.

(3) Despite subsection (1), a court may permit the notice of objection to be filed and served less than 10 days before the hearing if, in the opinion of the court, the circumstances warrant it.

Procedure and powers at hearing

67 Without limiting the powers of the court, the registrar, on hearing an application under this Part, may

(a) receive evidence by affidavit or orally;

(b) dispose of issues arising out of the application;

(d) set the time or times within which matters or proceedings respecting the estate shall be completed;

(e) grant any relief to which the applicant is entitled because of a breach of trust, wilful default or other misconduct of the respondent;

(f) direct that notice of the court’s decision or order be given to a particular person;

(g) dispense with service of notice on any person if, in the opinion of the court, service is impractical;

(h) order that any money in the hands of a personal representative be paid into any chartered bank to the credit of the estate and not withdrawn without a court order;

(i) order that security for costs be given by any party;

(j) order that costs be paid from the estate or by a person who is a party to the application;

(k) make any order the registrar considers appropriate in the circumstances.

Production of a will

68 (1) If an applicant applies for an order requiring a person to produce a will for a grant or to renounce executorship of a will, a court may order the person to appear before the court to

(a) deposit the will with the court;

(b) accept probate of the will;

(d) explain why administration with the will annexed should not be granted to the applicant or another person who has a prior or equal right to administer the estate and who is willing to act as an administrator;

(e) explain why the will should not or cannot be deposited with the court;

(f) give any information that the person has that is relevant to discovering the location of the will if it is not in the possession or control of the person.

(2) Despite subsection (1), a court may permit a person to prepare and submit affidavit evidence rather than attending before the court if, in the opinion of the court, the circumstances warrant it.

(3) An applicant shall not apply for an order requiring a personal representative of an estate to accept or refuse executorship of a will until at least 20 days after the date of the death of the testator.

(4) Despite subsection (3), an applicant may apply for an order requiring a personal representative of an estate to accept or refuse executorship of a will prior to the time referred to in subsection (3) if, in the opinion of the court, the circumstances warrant it.

(5) Upon being satisfied that a will may be in the custody of a person, a court may make an ex parte order in Form 48 for the production of the will.

Proof of lost or destroyed wills

69 (1) If an original will is lost or destroyed, the validity and content of the will shall be proved in accordance with Section 31 of the Act upon an application for proof in solemn form, unless the court otherwise orders.

(2) An application under subsection (1) may proceed by affidavit evidence without appearance where all persons who have an interest in the estate consent in writing to the proof.

Revocation of grant

70 (1) Each person who is or claims to be entitled to administer an estate under an unrevoked grant shall be made a party to an application for revocation of the grant.

(2) A court may direct that any person interested in an estate be made a party to the proceeding for revocation of a grant.

(3) Upon application for revocation of a grant,

(a) if the applicant has possession or control of the grant, the applicant shall deliver the grant to the registrar within 7 days after the application has been filed with the court; or

(b) if a party to the application other than the applicant has possession or control of the grant, the party shall deliver the grant to the registrar within 7 days after the party has been served with the application,

and the person to whom the grant was issued shall not act under it without leave of the court.

(4) If a person fails to comply with clause (3)(a) or (b), the registrar may issue an order in Form 49 requiring the person to deliver the grant to the registrar.

(5) A person against whom an order has been issued under subsection (4), shall not act under the grant without leave of the court.

(6) If an application for revocation of a grant is not contested or opposed, a court may make an order based on the documents filed without requiring anything more.

Proof in solemn form

71 (1) Subject to subsection (2), an application for proof of a will in solemn form pursuant to Section 31 of the Act shall be commenced by filing with the court a notice of application in Form 45 and an affidavit in Form 46 setting out the reasons for questioning the validity of the will and describing the names, ages and places of residence of the beneficiaries and persons entitled to share in the distribution of the estate by reason of the Intestate Succession Act.

(2) In accordance with subsection 31(2) of the Act, if an application for proof in solemn form of a will is made after 6 months from the date of the grant, the applicant shall explain the reasons for commencing the application at that time and shall acknowledge that the application is limited to the portion of the property of the estate remaining undistributed as at the date of commencement of the application.

(3) All persons known to have an interest in upholding or disputing the validity of the will shall be served with a copy of the application referred to in subsection (1) in accordance with Section 65 and shall have the right to be joined as parties.

(4) Upon filing the documents referred to in subsection (1), the applicant shall advertise the notice of application for proof in solemn form in 3 consecutive issues of the Royal Gazette.

(5) If an application for proof of a will in solemn form has been filed pursuant to Section 31 of the Act, a personal representative who has been issued a grant for the estate shall not distribute any of the property of the estate unless

(a) the court approves the distribution; or

(b) all persons interested in the estate consent in writing to the distribution and all the consents are filed with the court.

(6) Subject to subsection (5), if an application for proof of a will in solemn form is filed pursuant to Section 31 of the Act, a personal representative who has been issued a grant shall not exercise any of the powers of a personal representative during the application for proof of the will in solemn form without the consent of the court.

(7) If a court file has been opened for an estate, the registrar shall record all documents referred to in subsection (1) in that file.

(8) If there is no court file for an estate, all of documents referred to in subsection (1) are deemed to be originating documents and the registrar shall open a court file.

(9) If an application for proof of a will in solemn form is not contested, the court may make an order based on the documents filed without requiring anything more.

(10) If an application for proof of a will in solemn form is made by a person other than a personal representative named in the will, the personal representative may

(a) contest the application; or

(b) apply for an order that the application is frivolous or vexatious.

(11) If a personal representative of an estate applies pursuant to clause (10)(b) for an order that the application for proof of a will in solemn form is frivolous or vexatious, the personal representative shall file an affidavit explaining their reasons for seeking the order.

(12) If an application for proof of a will in solemn form is contested, the person contesting the application shall file a notice of objection in accordance with Section 66.

Registrar as clerk of court

72 (1) A registrar may act as clerk of the court where a judge is hearing a matter under the Act.

(2) If a registrar acts as clerk pursuant to subsection (1), the registrar shall assist the judge at any sitting of the court and be subject to the order of the judge, and all papers in the registrar’s possession shall be available for the use of the judge.

(3) When acting as a clerk, a registrar shall inform the judge of any proceeding or other business awaiting the judge’s action, and if the judge does not reside in the probate district the registrar shall, whenever the judge holds a sitting of the court, prepare a docket of the business to be disposed of at the sitting and may attend at the sitting with the papers relating to the business.

(4) A registrar acting as clerk pursuant to subsection (1) shall be responsible for recording the evidence and documents filed with the court.

Appraisal

73 (1) A person interested in an estate may make an application to a court in accordance with Section 64 for an order appointing one or more appraisers to estimate the value of any or all of the assets of the estate.

(2) Where an application is made pursuant to subsection (1), the affidavit shall contain

(a) the reasons for requiring an appraisal;

(b) information as to the nature of any dispute over evaluations;

applicant; and

(d) the method for determining the value of any or all of the assets to be appraised where more than one appraiser is to be appointed.

(3) The costs of an appraisal under this Section shall be paid from the estate unless the court otherwise directs.

Mediation

74 (1) During the proceeding of any contentious matter under this Part, the parties may agree to adjourn the proceeding and refer any or all matters in dispute to mediation.

(2) If a matter is referred to mediation pursuant to subsection (1), unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the procedure for conducting the mediation shall be as set out in Schedule A.

(3) If a party withdraws from mediation or where mediation is concluded without agreement being reached, the matter in dispute may be recommenced in the court by the parties, or one of them, at a time to be set by the court.

(4) Mediators to whom matters are referred pursuant to subsection (1) shall conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with the Arbitration and Mediation Institute of Canada’s approved Code of Conduct including, but not limited to, not acting as a representative or counsel of a party to the mediation.

Appeal from decision or order of registrar

75 (1) An appeal pursuant to Section 93 of the Act from a decision or order of a registrar shall be commenced by any party aggrieved by the order or decision by

(a) filing 4 copies of a notice of appeal with the registrar;

(b) serving 1 copy of the notice of appeal on the respondent, if any; and

(c) serving 1 copy of the notice of appeal on the personal representative, if the personal representative is not the appellant or the respondent,

not later than 30 days after the date of the registrar’s decision or order.

(2) A notice of appeal from a decision or order of a registrar shall be in Form 50 and shall be accompanied by a copy of the order or decision under appeal.

(3) Proof of service pursuant to subsection (1) shall be filed with the court not later than 7 days after the last day for service of the notice of appeal.

(4) Upon receipt of a notice of appeal, the registrar shall schedule a date and time for the hearing of the appeal and enter the date and time for the hearing on the notice of appeal.

(5) The judge may direct what material may be filed for the hearing of an appeal and may request clarification of the case from the registrar.

Transition

76 (1) An affidavit completed, dated and sworn on or before March 31, 2024, is valid for filing with the registrar if it meets the requirements of the Act and the regulations in force on March 31, 2024.

(2) If an application for a grant includes an affidavit that is completed, dated and sworn after March 31, 2024, that does not attach the will as an exhibit in accordance with these regulations, the registrar may issue a notice of rejection in Form 17 by ordinary mail to the applicant.

Schedule A—Probate Mediation Procedure

(S. 74)

Parties to the mediation

1 (1) The goal of mediation is to reach an agreed-upon settlement and, therefore, all persons with the appropriate authority to agree to the settlement terms and conditions should be present at or available to participate in the mediation.

(2) Other persons may participate in the mediation upon agreement by the parties.

Appointment of mediator

2 A mediator may be chosen from the Civil Roster of Mediators or the parties may choose their own mediator.

Disclosure

3 (1) Each party shall disclose whatever information and documents that the parties agree are necessary for them to reach an agreement.

(2) All information and documents shall be exchanged between the parties and delivered to the mediator at least 7 days before the first mediation session.

Procedure before mediation session

4 (1) Each party shall prepare a brief summary statement, not to exceed 3 pages, of the issues in dispute and the party’s positions with respect to those issues.

(2) A copy of the summary statement shall be delivered to every other designated party and the mediator not less than 3 days before the first mediation session.

(3) The mediator may meet with each party separately prior to a mediation session to clarify the issues and procedures.

Process

5 (1) The mediator may meet with any party privately during a mediation session if the mediator considers that it will assist the process.

(2) Each party shall participate in good faith in the mediation process including avoiding any unnecessary delays and submitting all relevant information.

Representation

6 A party may be represented at a mediation session by counsel or another representative and, where so represented, may request the opportunity to meet privately with counsel or that representative at any time during the mediation.

Adjournment

7 The mediator may adjourn or cancel a mediation session at any time.

Withdrawal

8 A party may withdraw from the mediation process at any time.

Resort to other proceedings

9 Unless it is necessary for a party to initiate or continue arbitral or judicial proceedings to preserve the party’s rights, no party shall, during the mediation process, initiate or continue any arbitral or judicial proceeding in respect of any matter in the dispute that is the subject-matter of the mediation.

Record

10 No transcript shall be kept of a mediation session.

Outcome of mediation

11 (1) When the parties reach an agreement, the mediator shall set out the agreement in writing in a report that shall be reviewed by the parties.

(2) Where a party is unrepresented, the mediator may suggest that the party seek independent legal advice before a settlement agreement is signed.

Confidentiality

12 No communications that occur during a mediation process are admissible in any legal proceeding and a mediator is neither competent nor compellable in any legal proceeding to disclose any admission or communication made to the mediator in his or her capacity as a mediator.

“Without prejudice” proceeding

13 In all respects, mediation is deemed to be a “without prejudice” proceeding carried on in the course of settlement negotiations.

Costs

14 The costs of a mediation process shall be borne by the parties to it, as agreed to between or among them.

________________________________________________________________

Forms

[Editorial note: Unless otherwise noted, the words in brackets in the following probate forms are not editorial corrections made by the Office of the Registrar of Regulations. They are part of the regulations.]

[Note: Effective October 22, 2013, the references to the Minister of Finance throughout the forms should be read as references to the Minister of Finance and Treasury Board in accordance with Order in Council 2013-348 under the Public Service Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 376.]

________________________________________________________________

Form 1 - Certificate of Status of a Grant

Form 1

Probate District:

Probate Court File No:

IN THE COURT OF PROBATE FOR NOVA SCOTIA

IN THE ESTATE OF , Deceased

Certificate of Status of a Grant

(S. 5(6))

This certifies that the grant of _{type of grant} for this estate was issued by this Court at _{probate district} to _{name of personal representative} , on

_{month and day} , 20 , and is still in force and effect on the date of this certificate.

____________________________ _____________________________

Date Registrar of Probate

________________________________________________________________

Form 2 - Affidavit of Execution of Will or Codicil

Form 2

Probate District:

Probate Court File No:

Affidavit of Execution of Will or Codicil

(S. 11)

I, _{name of witness}, of _{street and postal address, place, province/state, country} ,

make oath/affirm and say:

1. On _{month and day, year,}I was present and saw the _will/codicil executed by _{name of testat(or)(rix)} that is attached to this affidavit and marked Exhibit “A”.

2. _{Name of testat(or)(rix)} executed the document in the presence of me and _{name of other witness,
street and postal address, place, province/state, country}. We were both present at the same time, and signed the document in the testat(or)(rix)’s presence as attesting witnesses.

Sworn before me at _______________,

in the Country of _________________,

Province of , on ______________, 20___

_________________________________

A Barrister of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Notary Public Registrar of Probate or Deputy Registrar of Probate

)

_______________________________

Signature of witness

Note: if the testat(or)(rix) was blind or signed by making his or her mark, add the following paragraph:

3. Before its execution, the document was read over to the _{testat(or)(rix)} , who _{was blind/signed by making
his/her mark} . The _{testat(or)(rix)} indicated that _he/she understood the contents.

Warning: A beneficiary or the spouse of a beneficiary should not be a witness to a will.

________________________________________________________________

Form 2A - Affidavit Proving Execution of Holograph Will

Form 2[A]

Probate District:

Probate Court File No:

IN THE COURT OF PROBATE FOR NOVA SCOTIA

IN THE ESTATE OF , Deceased

Affidavit Proving Execution of a Holograph Will

(Section 11A)

I, _{name of deponent} , of _{street and postal address, place, province/state, country} , make oath and say:

1. (a) I was well acquainted with the deceased, _{name of deceased} . I frequently saw the deceased write and sign their name and I am well acquainted with the deceased’s handwriting and signature.

(b) I am well acquainted with _name . I have frequently seen _name write and sign their name and I am well acquainted with their handwriting and signature.

_{[Choose (a) or (b) and delete the other.]}

2. I have carefully examined the document dated _date that is attached to this affidavit and marked Exhibit “A”.

3. I believe the whole of the document including the signature to be in the handwriting of _{name of signor} .

Sworn before me at ____________

in the Country of ________________

Province of Nova Scotia, on ______________, 20___

______________________________

A Barrister of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Notary Public in and for the Province of Nova Scotia, Registrar of Probate or Deputy Registrar of Probate

)

_______________________________

Signature

________________________________________________________________

Form 3 - Affidavit Verifying Translation

Form 3

Probate District:

Probate Court File No:

IN THE COURT OF PROBATE FOR NOVA SCOTIA

IN THE ESTATE OF , Deceased

Affidavit Verifying Translation

(S. 12(1))

I, _{name of translator} , of _address

make oath and say:

1. I can read, write, and speak English and _{translated language} fluently and I am competent to translate documents from either language to the other.

2. I have carefully examined the original document(s) dated _{month and day} , _year , which _is/are written in the _{translated language} language and which purport(s) to be the

[ ] last will

[ ] last will and codicil(s)

[ ] document referred to in will or codicil: _{[specify document]}

of the deceased and _is/areattached to this affidavit and marked Exhibit “A”.

3. Exhibit “B” to this affidavit is the original of my translation of Exhibit “A” to this affidavit into English and it is accurate.

Sworn before me at ________________,

in the Country of ___________________,

Province of Nova Scotia, on ______________, 20___

______________________________

A Barrister of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Commission[er] of Oaths in and for the Province of Nova Scotia, Notary Public in and for the Province of Nova Scotia.

)

_______________________________

Signature of translator

________________________________________________________________

Form 4 - Order Appointing a Guardian ad Litem

Form 4

Probate District:

Probate Court File No:

IN THE COURT OF PROBATE FOR NOVA SCOTIA

IN THE ESTATE OF , Deceased

Order Appointing a Guardian ad Litem

(S. 16(2))

An application has been commenced for _{[state the proceeding]} , and it appears that _{beneficiary/heir} is an infant, and is interested in the matter, and has no legal guardian.

It is ordered that _name of _residence in the County of _county, is appointed to act as guardian ad litem, to represent the interests of _{infant’s name} , in the matter.

___________________________ _____________________________

Date Registrar of Probate

I accept the above appointment of guardian ad litem.

_________________________

Signature of guardian ad litem

Name:

Complete address:

Telephone:

Fax:

E-mail:

Note: may be used for more than 1 infant

________________________________________________________________

Form 5 - Affidavit of Service

Form 5

Probate District:

Probate Court File No:

IN THE COURT OF PROBATE FOR NOVA SCOTIA

IN THE ESTATE OF , Deceased

Affidavit of Service

(S. 22(5))

I , _name , of _{street and postal address, place} , in the Province of _province ,

make oath and say:

I served copies of the originals of the following documents, which are on file with the court (if not on file, attached as exhibits), as follows:

Document: Exhibit “ ”:

on the following persons:

[list name(s) and address(es) of person(s), date(s) served, where served and method of service]

Sworn before me at ________________,

in the Country of ___________________,

Province of , on ______________, 20___

______________________________

A Barrister of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Commissioner of Oaths in and for the Province of Nova Scotia, Notary Public in and for the Province of Nova Scotia.

)

_______________________________

Signature of deponent

________________________________________________________________

Form 6 - Subpoena

Form 6

Probate District:

Probate Court File No:

IN THE COURT OF PROBATE FOR NOVA SCOTIA

IN THE ESTATE OF , Deceased

[title of proceeding]

Subpoena

(S. 23)

TO: _{names and addresses of witnesses}

You are required to attend the hearing of the above proceeding in the Probate Court, to be held at _{court address} in _place , Nova Scotia, on _{month and
day} , 20 , at _time a.m./p.m. and so on from day to day until the end of the hearing, to give evidence on behalf of the _{applicant/respondents} .

You are also required to bring with you and to produce at the above hearing the following documents or things:

_{[here describe the documents or things]}

Your failure to obey this subpoena without adequate excuse may be deemed a contempt of court and you could be arrested and imprisoned.

Issued at _place , Nova Scotia, _{month and day} , 20 .

Registrar of Probate

________________________________________________________________

Form 7 - Reservation of Right to Apply for Grant of Probate

Form 7

Probate District:

Probate Court File No:

IN THE COURT OF PROBATE FOR NOVA SCOTIA

IN THE ESTATE OF , Deceased

Reservation of Right to Apply for Grant of Probate

(S. 29)

1. The deceased, _{name of deceased} , executed a will or codicil in which I am appointed a personal representative.

2. I reside in the Province of Nova Scotia and I am entitled to apply for a grant of probate of the deceased’s estate under the Probate Act.

3. I have not intermeddled in the deceased’s estate.

4. I desire the administration of the deceased’s estate to proceed expeditiously but I am unable at this time to administer the estate of the deceased because I _{am/will be} absent from the Province.

5. I expect to be able to undertake the duties of personal representative in the future and I reserve my right to apply for a grant of probate.

6. I consent to the issuance of a grant of probate to _name , subject to my reservation.

Signed at _place , _province , on _{month and day} , 20 .

__________________________ _____________________________________

Signature of witness Signature of person reserving right to apply

[name of witness - please print] [name of person - please print]

________________________________________________________________

Form 7A - Reservation of Right to Apply for Grant of Administration

Form 7A

Probate District:

Probate Court File No:

IN THE COURT OF PROBATE FOR NOVA SCOTIA

IN THE ESTATE OF , Deceased

Reservation of Right to Apply for Grant of Administration

(S. 29)

1. The deceased, _{name of deceased} , died intestate.

2. I reside in the Province of Nova Scotia and I am entitled to apply for a grant of administration of the deceased’s estate under the Probate Act.

3. I have not intermeddled in the deceased’s estate.

5. I expect to be able to undertake the duties of personal representative in the future and I reserve my right to apply for a grant of administration.

6. I consent to the issuance of a grant of administration to _name , subject to my reservation.

Signed at _place , _province , on _{month and day} , 20 .

__________________________ ____________________________________

Signature of witness Signature of person reserving right to apply

[name of witness - please print] [name of person - please print]

________________________________________________________________

Form 7B - Reservation of Right to Apply for Grant of Administration
with the Will Annexed

Form 7B

Probate District:

Probate Court File No:

IN THE COURT OF PROBATE FOR NOVA SCOTIA

IN THE ESTATE OF , Deceased

Reservation of Right to Apply for Grant of Administration

with the Will Annexed

(S. 29)

1. The deceased, _{name of deceased} , executed a will or codicil in which the named executor(s) _is/are unable to take out probate because _{[give explanation]} .

2. I reside in the Province of Nova Scotia and I am entitled to apply for a grant of administration with the will annexed under the Probate Act.

3. I have not intermeddled in the deceased’s estate.

5. I expect to be able to undertake the duties of personal representative in the future and I reserve my right to apply for a grant of administration with the will annexed.

6. I consent to the issuance of a grant of administration with the will annexed to _name , subject to my reservation.

Signed at _place , _province , on _{month and day} , 20 .

___________________________ ____________________________________

Signature of witness Signature of person reserving right to apply

[name of witness - please print] [name of person - please print]

________________________________________________________________

Form 8 - Application for a Grant of Probate

Form 8

Probate District:

Probate Court File No:

IN THE COURT OF PROBATE FOR NOVA SCOTIA

IN THE ESTATE OF, Deceased

Application for a Grant of Probate

(S. 33(1))

I, _{name in full} , of _{street and postal address} , _place ,

in the County of _county , Province of _province , _{postal code} , applicant,

make oath and say:

1. _{name of deceased} late of _place , in the County/Municipality of

_{county/municipality} , Province of Nova Scotia, _occupation , died on or about _{month
and day} , 20 , at _place , in the County/Municipality of _{county/municipality} , Province of _province , and at the time of death the residence of the deceased was

(a) at _place , in the County/Municipality of _{county/municipality} , Province of Nova Scotia.

(b) outside Nova Scotia and the deceased had, at such time, property in Nova Scotia.

_{[Choose (a) or (b) and delete the other.]}

2. To the best of my information and belief

(a) the deceased _{was/was not} of the age of majority at the time the will was made and _{was/was not} married and _{was/was not} a registered domestic partner at that time;

(b) the deceased, at the time of death, was married / unmarried / a widower / a widow / separated / divorced / a registered domestic partner; _{[circle one]}

(c) the deceased _{did/did not} marry and _{was/was not} a registered domestic partner after the deceased’s will was made;

(d) neither _{name of witness} nor _{name of witness} , the witnesses to the attached will and codicil(s), is a beneficiary or the spouse of a beneficiary named in the will or any codicil(s); _{[If so, give details.]}

(e) the deceased was predeceased by _{[List the names, addresses and dates of death respectively of predeceasing
beneficiaries named in the will, predeceasing spouse(s) and predeceasing child(ren).]} ;

(f) there _{are/are no} marriage contracts, separation agreements or court orders that affect the appointment of the applicant as personal representative of the estate of the deceased; _{[If there are, give details.]}

(g) will or codicil(s) exhibited in the _{affidavit in proof of execution of a will/affidavit attesting to the authenticity of the
signature of the deceased/affidavit explaining circumstances} attached to this application _is/are the true and original last will and codicil(s) of the deceased;

(h) no other application has been made for a grant of probate or administration of this estate; and

(i) the fair market value of all the assets of the deceased that the deceased died possessed of or entitled to that pass by a will or wills or that are transferred or will be transferred to a trust under a will or wills, whether or not the trust is described in the will as being separate from the estate, or that pass upon intestacy, is:

(i) real property less encumbrances$

(ii) personal property (gross value)$

Total: $

which includes all insurance, RRSPs, RRIFs, pensions, superannuation and annuities payable to the estate of the deceased. _{[Do not include real property outside Nova Scotia, real property held in joint
tenancy or insurance, RRSPs, RRIFs, pensions, superannuation and annuities payable to a named beneficiary.]}

3. The real property of the deceased is situate at _{place in Nova Scotia} .

4. I am the executor of the deceased named in the will or codicil(s) exhibited in the _{affidavit in
proof of execution of a will/affidavit attesting to the authenticity of the deceased/affidavit explaining circumstances} attached to this application.

_{[If any executor named in the attached will or codicil(s) is not applying or is reserving the right to apply, provide explanation.]}

5. I will faithfully administer the property of the deceased by

(a) paying the just debts of the deceased, all taxes payable in respect of the estate of the deceased and the legacies contained in the attached will and codicil(s) so far as it or they extend and the law binds me;

(b) filing with the court a full and true inventory of all assets of the deceased in Form 29 within 3 months after the date of the grant;

(c) disclosing to the court the existence of any asset and any encumbrance on real property, the value of which has not been disclosed in the inventory, within 30 days of when I learn of it;

(d) undertaking to pay the Minister of Finance the taxes payable under the Probate Act with respect to any asset that passes to me as the personal representative of the deceased and has not previously been disclosed to the Court, upon a determination being made as to the value of that asset;

(e) rendering a true account of my executorship whenever required by law to do so; and

(f) distributing all the property of the deceased according to law.

6. I will surrender to this court the grant to be issued to me whenever so required by the court or the registrar.

7. I request that the court issue a grant of probate to the applicant.

Sworn before me at ________________,

in the Country of ___________________,

Province of Nova Scotia, on ______________, 20___

______________________________

A Barrister of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Commissioner of Oaths in and for the Province of Nova Scotia, Notary Public in and for the Province of Nova Scotia.

)

_______________________________

Signature of applicant

[Note: the text and signature areas of this form may be adapted as required where there is more than one applicant.]

________________________________________________________________

Form 8A - Application for a Grant of Probate (Corporate Applicant)

Form 8A

Probate District:

Probate Court File No:

IN THE COURT OF PROBATE FOR NOVA SCOTIA

IN THE ESTATE OF , Deceased

Application for a Grant of Probate (Corporate Applicant)

(S. 33(1))

I,_{trust officer}on behalf of_{trust company} of

_{street and postal address} , _place , in the County of _county ,

Province of _province, _{postal code}, applicant,

make oath and say:

1. I am authorized to make this application for a grant of probate on behalf of

_{trust company} and that _{trust company} is the executor named in the will or codicil(s) exhibited in the _{affidavit in proof of execution of a will/affidavit attesting to the authenticity of the signature of the deceased/affidavit
explaining circumstances} attached to this application. _{[If any executor(s) named in the attached will or codicil(s) is/are not
applying, provide explanation.]}

2. _{trust company} is authorized to administer estates in the Province of Nova Scotia.

3. _{name of deceased} late of _place , in the County/Municipality of _{county/municipality} , Province of Nova Scotia, _occupation , died on or about _{month and day} , 20 , at _place , in the County/Municipality of _{county/municipality} , Province of _province , and at the time of death the residence of the deceased was

(a) at _place , in the County/Municipality of_{county/municipality} , Province of Nova Scotia.

(b) outside Nova Scotia and the deceased had, at such time, property in Nova Scotia.

_{[Choose (a) or (b) and delete the other.]}

4. To the best of my information and belief

(a) the deceased _{was/was not} of the age of majority at the time the will was made and _{was/was not} married and _{was/was not} a registered domestic partner at that time;

(b) the deceased, at the time of death, was married / unmarried / a widower / a widow / separated / divorced / a registered domestic partner; _{[circle one]}

(c) the deceased _{did/did not} marry and _{was/was not} a registered domestic partner after the deceased’s will was made;

(d) neither _{name of witness} nor _{name of witness} , the witnesses to the will and any codicil(s) exhibited in the _{affidavit in proof of execution of a will/affidavit attesting to the authenticity of the signature of
the deceased/affidavit explaining circumstances} attached to this application, is a beneficiary or the spouse of a beneficiary named in the will or any codicil(s); _{[If so, give details.]}

(g) the will and codicil(s) exhibited in the _{affidavit in proof of execution of a will/affidavit attesting to the authenticity
of the signature of the deceased/affidavit explaining circumstances} attached to this application _is/are the true and original last will and codicil(s) of the deceased;

(h) no other application has been made for a grant of probate or administration of this estate; and

(i) real property less encumbrances$

(ii) personal property (gross value)$

Total: $

5. The real property of the deceased is situate at _{place in Nova Scotia} .

6. _{trust company}, will faithfully administer the property of the deceased by

(b) filing with the court a full and true inventory of all assets of the deceased in Form 29 within 3 months after the date of the grant;

(c) disclosing to the court the existence of any asset and any encumbrance on real property the value of which has not been disclosed in the inventory within 30 days of when it learns of it;

(d) undertaking to pay the Minister of Finance the taxes payable under the Probate Act with respect to any asset that passes to _{trust company} as the personal representative of the deceased and has not previously been disclosed to the court, upon a determination being made as to the value of that asset;

(e) rendering a true account of its executorship whenever required by law to do so; and

(f) distributing all the property of the deceased according to law.

7. _{trust company}will surrender to this court the grant to be issued to it whenever so required by the court or the registrar.

8. I request that the court issue a grant of probate to the applicant.

Sworn before me at ________________,

in the Country of ___________________,

Province of Nova Scotia, on ______________, 20___

______________________________

A Barrister of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Commissioner of Oaths in and for the Province of Nova Scotia, Notary Public in and for the Province of Nova Scotia.

)

[trust company]

per: _____________________________

Signature of trust officer

________________________________________________________________

Form 9 - Application for a Grant of Administration

Form 9

Probate District:

Probate Court File No:

IN THE COURT OF PROBATE FOR NOVA SCOTIA

IN THE ESTATE OF , Deceased

Application for a Grant of Administration

(S. 33(2))

I, _{name in full} , of _{street and postal address} , _place , in the County of _county , Province of _province , _{postal code} , applicant,

make oath and say:

1. _{name of deceased} , late of _place , in the County/Municipality of _{county/municipality} , Province of Nova Scotia, _occupation , died on or about _{month
and day} , 20 , at _place , in the County/Municipality of _{county/municipality} , Province of _province , and at the time of death the residence of the deceased was

(a) at _place , in the County/Municipality of _{county/municipality} , Province of Nova Scotia.

(b) outside Nova Scotia and the deceased had, at such time, property in Nova Scotia.

_{[Choose (a) or ( b) and delete the other.]}

2. I have caused a diligent and careful search to be made for a will, any codicil thereto or testamentary paper of the deceased but have been unable to discover any.

3. (a) I am _{relationship of applicant} to the deceased and am therefore entitled to make this application.

_{[Attach Form 13 renunciation from each person having a prior or equal right to apply.]}

(b) I am the nominee applicant under subsection 32(4) of the Probate Act and am entitled to make this application.

_{[Attach Form 15 renunciation/nomination/consent from persons having prior or equal right to apply.]}

_{[Choose (a) or (b) and delete the other.]}

4. To the best of my information and belief

(a) the deceased, at the time of death, was married / unmarried / a widower / a widow / separated / divorced / a registered domestic partner _{[circle one]} , and left the following person(s) who are entitled by law to share in the estate: _{[List the names, addresses, age, relationship to
deceased of each heir.]}

(b) the deceased was predeceased by the following person (s) who would have been entitled by law to share in the estate: _{[List the names, addresses and dates of death respectively of each
predeceasing heir.]}

(c) there _{are/are no} marriage contracts, separation agreements or court orders that affect the appointment of the applicant as personal representative of the estate of the deceased; _{[If there are, give details.]}

(d) no other application has been made for a grant of probate or administration of this estate; and

(e) the fair market value of all the assets of the deceased that the deceased died possessed of or entitled to that pass by a will or wills or that are transferred or will be transferred to a trust under a will or wills, whether or not the trust is described in the will as being separate from the estate, or that pass upon intestacy, is

(i) real property less encumbrances$

(ii) personal property (gross value)$

Total: $

5. The real property of the deceased is situate at _{place in Nova Scotia} .

6. I will faithfully administer the property of the deceased by

(a) paying the just debts of the deceased and all taxes payable in respect of the estate of the deceased;

(b) filing with the court a full and true inventory of all assets of the deceased in Form 29 within 3 months after the date of the grant;

(c) disclosing to the court the existence of any asset and any encumbrance on real property the value of which has not been disclosed in the inventory within 30 days of when I learn of it;

(d) undertaking to pay the Minister of Finance the taxes payable under the Probate Act with respect to any asset that passes to me as the personal representative of the deceased and has not previously been disclosed to the court, upon a determination being made as to the value of that asset;

(e) rendering a true account of my administration whenever required by law to do so; and

(f) distributing all the property of the deceased according to law.

7. I will surrender to this court the grant to be issued to me whenever so required by the court or the registrar.

8. I request that the court issue a grant of administration to the applicant.

Sworn before me at ________________,

in the Country of ___________________,

Province of Nova Scotia, on ______________, 20___

______________________________

A Barrister of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Commissioner of Oaths in and for the Province of Nova Scotia, Notary Public in and for the Province of Nova Scotia.

)

_______________________________

Signature of applicant

[Note: the text and signature areas of this form may be adapted as required where there is more than one applicant.]

________________________________________________________________

Form 9A - Application for a Grant of Administration (Corporate Applicant)

Form 9A

Probate District:

Probate Court File No:

IN THE COURT OF PROBATE FOR NOVA SCOTIA

IN THE ESTATE OF , Deceased

Application for a Grant of Administration (Corporate Applicant)

(S. 33(2))

I _{trust officer} on behalf of _{trust company} , of _{street and postal address} , _place , in the County of _county , Province of _province , _{postal code}, applicant,

make oath and say:

1. I am authorized to make this application for a grant of administration on behalf of _{trust company} under subsection 32(4) of the Probate Act and have attached the applicable renunciations and/or consent(s). _[Attach _{Form 13 renunciation or Form 15 renunciation/nomination/consent from persons
having a prior or equal right to apply.]}

2. _{trust company} is authorized to administer estates in Nova Scotia.

3. _{name of deceased} , late of _place , in the County/Municipality of _{county/municipality} , Province of Nova Scotia, _occupation , died on or about _{month and day} , 20 , at

_place , in the County/Municipality of _{county/municipality} , Province of _province , and at the time of death the residence of the deceased was

(a) at _place , in the County/Municipality of _{county/municipality} , Province of Nova Scotia.

(b) outside Nova Scotia and the deceased had, at such time, property in Nova Scotia.

_{[Choose (a) or (b) and delete the other.]}

4. A diligent and careful search has been made for a will, any codicil thereto or testamentary paper of the deceased but none have been discovered.

5. To the best of my information and belief

(b) the deceased was predeceased by the following person(s) who would have been entitled by law to share in the estate: _{[List the names, addresses and dates of death respectively of each
predeceasing heir.]}

(d) no other application has been made for a grant of probate or administration of this estate; and

(i) real property less encumbrances$

(ii) personal property (gross value)$

Total: $

6. The real property of the deceased is situate at _{place in Nova Scotia} .

7. _{trust company} will faithfully administer the property of the deceased by

(a) paying the just debts of the deceased and all taxes payable in respect of the estate of the deceased;

(b) filing with the court a full and true inventory of all assets of the deceased in Form 29 within 3 months after the date of the grant;

(c) disclosing to the court the existence of any asset and any encumbrance on real property the value of which has not been disclosed in the inventory within 30 days of when it learns of it;

(e) rendering a true account of its administration whenever required by law to do so; and

(f) distributing all the property of the deceased according to law.

8. _{trust company} will surrender to this court the grant to be issued to it whenever so required by the court or the registrar.

9. I request that the court issue a grant of administration to the applicant.

Sworn before me at ________________,

in the Country of ___________________,

Province of Nova Scotia, on ______________, 20___

______________________________

A Barrister of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Commissioner of Oaths in and for the Province of Nova Scotia, Notary Public in and for the Province of Nova Scotia.

)

[trust company]

per: _____________________________

Signature of trust officer

________________________________________________________________

Form 10 - Application for a Grant of Administration with the Will Annexed

Form 10

Probate District:

Probate Court File No:

IN THE COURT OF PROBATE FOR NOVA SCOTIA

IN THE ESTATE OF , Deceased

Application for a Grant of Administration with the Will Annexed

(S. 33(3))

I, _{name in full} , of _{street and postal address} , _place , in the County of _county , Province of _province , _{postal code} , applicant,

make oath and say:

1. The executor named in the will and any codicil(s) exhibited in the _{affidavit in proof of execution of a
will/affidavit attesting to the authenticity of the signature of the deceased/affidavit explaining circumstances} attached to this application is unable to take out probate because _{[give explanation]}

2. I am _{relationship of applicant} to the deceased and am therefore entitled to make this application.

_[Attach _{Form 12, 14 or 15 renunciation/nomination/consent from persons having a prior or equal right to apply.]}

(a) at _place , in the County/Municipality of _{county/municipality} , Province of Nova Scotia.

(b) outside Nova Scotia and the deceased had, at such time, property in Nova Scotia.

_{[Choose (a) or (b) and delete the other.]}

4. To the best of my information and belief:

(a) the deceased _{was/was not} of the age of majority at the time the will was made and _{was/was not} married and _{was/was not} a registered domestic partner at that time;

(b) the deceased, at the time of death, was married / unmarried / a widower / a widow / separated / divorced / a registered domestic partner; _{[circle one]}

(c) the deceased _{did/did not} marry and _{was/was not} a registered domestic partner after the deceased’s will was made;

(f) the deceased died leaving the following heirs: _{[List the names and addresses of heirs.]} ;

(g) there _{are/are no} marriage contracts, separation agreements or court orders that affect the appointment of the applicant as personal representative of the estate of the deceased; _{[If there are, give details.]}

(h) the will and codicil(s) exhibited in the _{affidavit in proof of execution of a will/affidavit attesting to the authenticity
of the signature of the deceased/affidavit explaining circumstances} attached to this application _is/are the true and original last will and codicil(s) of the deceased;

(i) no other application has been made for a grant of probate or administration of this estate; and

(j) the fair market value of all the assets of the deceased that the deceased died possessed of or entitled to that pass by a will or wills or that are transferred or will be transferred to a trust under a will or wills, whether or not the trust is described in the will as being separate from the estate, or that pass upon intestacy, is: