IPW Autumn Journal 2026 (8) - Flipbook - Page 16
Not only does placing a notice in a local newspaper protect the personal
representatives from personal liability, but it also allows for the safe
distribution of assets. If a creditor emerges after the notice period has expired,
the personal representative of the estate cannot be held accountable for the
debt. The notice provides a safe harbour for the representatives as they will
be able to distribute the estate without fear that unknown debts could
possibly come to light.
What information is needed in a deceased estate notice?
It is important that the notice includes all relevant information about the
deceased. This includes:
Full name
Address
Date of death
Occupation
Details such as the name and contact address of the executor/administrator
should also be included on the notice. If a company/firm are acting, their
name and address should be present on the notice so that correspondence
relating to any potential claims can be sent.
How do you place a deceased estates notice in The Gazette?
You can place a deceased notice in The Gazette and a local newspaper at
the same time. The process is as follows:
1.Before you begin: make sure you have at least one of the following:
grant of probate
letter of administration
death certificate
2.Decide which services you want: as well as placing a deceased estates
notice in The Gazette and a newspaper that is local to the deceased, there
is also a forwarding service for deceased estates. This replaces your
address with The Gazette's postal box, so all correspondence can be sent
on to you while your address stays private. If you do not use the
forwarding service, your address will be recorded in the public domain
permanently.
3.Once you're ready to place a notice: create an account or sign in, and then
go to 'Place a notice' from the 'My Gazette' dropdown.
4.Complete the form: select which Gazette edition, then 'Personal Legal' and
'Deceased Estates', and fill out the remaining fields, including uploading
the required documentation.
5.Submit: submit your notice and check out.
