Hong Kong Ordinances

PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION ORDINANCE - SECT 3

Jurisdiction of the court in probate and administration

(Past version on 01/07/1997).
(Past version on 30/06/1997).

PART I

JURISDICTION AND POWERS OF THE COURT

(1) The court shall have jurisdiction in all matters relating to probate and
administration of deceaseds' estates, with power to grant probates of wills
and letters of administration to the estates of deceased persons and to alter
or revoke such grants.

(2) The court shall have jurisdiction to make a grant of probate or
administration in respect of a deceased person notwithstanding that the
deceased person left no estate. [cf. 1932 c. 55 s. 2 U.K.]

(3) The court shall have jurisdiction to reseal grants of probate and letters
of administration made by a court of probate in any designated country or
place in accordance with the provisions of Part IV of this Ordinance. (Amended
67 of 1999 s. 3)

(4) Where a testator gives, devises or bequeaths any part of his estate for
unspecified charitable purposes, otherwise than on trust, the court shall have
jurisdiction, on the application of the Secretary for Justice, to approve a
scheme for the disposal of the gift, devise or bequest for such charitable
purposes as it thinks fit. (Added 13 of 1995 s. 51. Amended L.N. 362 of 1997)