Estates of Deceased Foreigners Act (Cap. 198)

BELIZE ESTATES OF DECEASED FOREIGNERS ACT CHAPTER 198 REVISED EDITION 2000 SHOWING THE LAW AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2000 This is a revised edition of the law, prepared by the Law Revision Commissioner under the authority of the Law Revision Act, Chapter 3 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 1980 - 1990. This edition contains a consolidation of the following laws- Page ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 3 ESTATES OF DECEASED FOREIGNERS ACT 4 Amendments in force as at 31st December, 2000. BELIZE ESTATES OF DECEASED FOREIGNERS ACT CHAPTER 198 REVISED EDITION 2000 SHOWING THE LAW AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2000 This is a revised edition of the law, prepared by the Law Revision Commissioner under the authority of the Law Revision Act, Chapter 3 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 1980 - 1990. This edition contains a consolidation of the following laws- Page ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 3 ESTATES OF DECEASED FOREIGNERS ACT 4 Amendments in force as at 31st December, 2000. THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000 Printed by the Government Printer, No. 1 Power Lane, Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. Estates of Deceased Foreigners [CAP. 198 [ ] 3 CHAPTER 198 ESTATES OF DECEASED FOREIGNERS ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 1. Short title. PART I Estates of United States of America Citizens 2. Consul may administer personal estate in certain events. 3. Consul may take possession of real estate. 4. Saving of Crown’s right. 5. Duration of this Part of this Act. PART II Estates of Subjects of Scheduled Foreign States 6. Administration of estates by Consular Officers. 7. Variations of Schedule. SCHEDULE Estates of Deceased ForeignersCAP. 198] THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000 Printed by the Government Printer, No. 1 Power Lane, Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. 4 [ ] CHAPTER 198 ESTATES OF DECEASED FOREIGNERS [28th June, 1906 - Part I] [16th November, 1940 - Part II] 1. This Act may be cited as the Estates of Deceased Foreigners Act. PART I Estates of United States of America Citizens 2.-(1) Subject to subsection (2), where any citizen of the United States of America dies within Belize, and there is no person present in Belize at the time of his death who is rightfully entitled to administer the personal estate of that deceased person, it shall be lawful for the Consul, Vice-Consul or Consular Agent of the United States of America within Belize (a) to take possession and have the custody of the personal estate of the deceased; (b) to apply the same in payment of his or her debts and funeral expenses; and (c) to retain the surplus for the benefit of the person or persons entitled thereto. (2) Such Consul, Vice-Consul or Consular Agent shall immediately apply for and shall be entitled, without giving the bond specified in section 14 of the Administration of Estates Act, to obtain letters of administration of the personal estate of such deceased person, limited in such manner and for such Ch. 197, R.L., 1958. CAP. 159, R.E. 1980-1990. S.I. 17 of 1964. Commencement. Short title. Consul may administer personal estate in certain events. CAP. 197. THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000 Printed by the Government Printer, No. 1 Power Lane, Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. Estates of Deceased Foreigners [CAP. 198 [ ] 5 time as the court may think fit. 3. Where any citizen of the United States of America dies within Belize, and there is no person present in Belize at the time of his death who is rightfully entitled to the possession of the real estate of that deceased person, it shall be lawful for the Consul, Vice-Consul or Consular Agent of the United States of America to take possession of and protect the said real estate for the benefit of the person or persons entitled thereto, until such last mentioned person or per sons is or are otherwise represented in Belize. 4. Nothing contained in this Act shall affect the Crown’s right under the Administration of Estates Act. 5. It shall be lawful for the Minister by Order published in the Gazette, whenever it appears to him expedient, to declare this Part to be no longer in force, and thereupon it shall cease to have effect. PART II Estates of Subjects of Scheduled Foreign States 6.-(1) Subject to subsection (2), where any subject or citizen of any State mentioned in the first column of the Schedule to this Act (a) dies within Belize; or (b) dies outside Belize leaving property within Belize, and no person is present in Belize at the time of his death who is rightfully entitled to administer the estate of such deceased person, the Consul, Vice Consul or Consular Agent of such State within Belize may take possession and have the custody of the property of such deceased person, and may apply the same in payment of his debts and funeral expenses, and may retain the surplus Consul may take possession of real estate. Saving of Crown’s right. CAP. 197. Duration of this Part of this Act. S.I. 17 of 1964. Administration of estates by Consular Officers. Schedule. Estates of Deceased ForeignersCAP. 198] THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000 Printed by the Government Printer, No. 1 Power Lane, Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. 6 [ ] for the benefit of the persons entitled thereto. (2) Such Consul, Vice-Consul or Consular Agent shall immediately apply for and shall be entitled to obtain from the court, letters of administration of the property of such deceased person, limited in such manner and for such time as to the court shall seem fit. 7. It shall be lawful for the Minister, by Order published in the Gazette, to vary the Schedule (a) by deleting therefrom any State when the provision of the Treaty with that State mentioned in the Schedule shall have ceased to have effect; (b) by adding thereto any State with which Her Majesty made before Belize attained independence and extended to apply to Belize, or which the government of Belize shall thereafter make a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation containing provision similar to any of the provisions of the Articles mentioned in the Schedule. Variations of Schedule. S.I. 17 of 1964. Schedule. Schedule. THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000 Printed by the Government Printer, No. 1 Power Lane, Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. 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