Jersey probate is the legal process used to deal with certain assets belonging to someone who has died. If the deceased owned assets in Jersey, such as money held in a Jersey bank account, a Jersey Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration may be needed before those assets can be released. Jersey has its own legal system, so a probate document issued in England and Wales does not automatically give an executor authority to deal with Jersey assets. You can find more information about the process on our Standard Jersey Probate page.
When Is Jersey Probate Needed?
Whether a Jersey grant is required will depend on what the deceased owned and their individual circumstances.
Assets that may need to be dealt with can include:
- Bank and building society accounts
- Investments and shareholdings
- Certain business interests
- Other financial assets held in Jersey
For someone who died leaving a valid will covering their Jersey movable estate, the executor may need to apply to Jersey’s Probate Division for a Grant of Probate. The Government of Jersey explains that applications for probate or Letters of Administration are made through the Judicial Greffe.
Is Jersey Probate the Same as UK Probate?
Jersey is a Crown Dependency and is not part of the United Kingdom. It has its own succession and probate procedures. This distinction can become particularly important with cross-border estates. Someone may have lived in England but held an account or investment in Jersey, meaning their representatives have probate matters to deal with in more than one jurisdiction.
Jersey also distinguishes between movable and immovable property. Immovable property, such as Jersey land and buildings, is dealt with differently from movable assets and does not form part of the probate application in the same way.
If an estate has connections to both Jersey and another country, it is worth establishing early which assets require a Jersey grant. Doing so can help avoid reaching the point where an account or investment cannot be released because the necessary Jersey authority has not yet been obtained. Where a UK Grant of Representation has already been obtained, our Fast Track Probate service may be relevant to the Jersey application.
Read more information on fast track probate, completing probate remotely and writing a will. Explore our latest guides for practical advice on probate applications, administering estates, understanding personal representatives and dealing with estates.
For those who require legal assistance in Jersey, such as probate advice, contact Jersey Probate at 020 3985 9556.
