Notice to executors to tome in and
prove.
Time after death when
probate or administration may be granted.
Application
after three years.
Grants by Supreme
On request of Provincial Court.
In disputed or doubtful cases, directions of Supreme to Provincial Court.
Evidence to found jurisdic-
cial Court.
74
RULES OF SUPREME COURT
as he would be liable to if he were a party to a suit in the Court, and had made like default.
186. The Court may of its own motion, or on the application of any person claiming an interest under a will, give notice to the executor or executors (if any) therein named, to come in and prove the will or to renounce probate: and the executors or executor so named, or some or one of thein, must within fourteen days after notice come in and prove or renounce accordingly.
I. Probate or Administration in General.
187. Probate of letters of administration with Will annexed shall not issue until after the lapse of seven days from the death of the deccased, except under the direction of the Judge of the Supreme Court, or in case of great urgency.
Letters of administration (not with Will annexed) shall not issue until after the lapse of fourteen days from the death of the deceased, except under the direction of the Supreme Court, or in case of great urgency.
188. Where probate or administration is, for the first time, applied for after the lapse of three years from the death of the deceased, a grant shall not be made except under the direction of the Judge of the Supreme Court.
189. In any case a grant of probate or administration may be made by the Supreme Court, wheresoever in China or Japan the deceased had at the time of his death his place of abode; but where the deceased had at the time of his death his fixed place of abode in the district of a Provincial Court, the application for the grant shall not be entertained by the Supreme Court, except on the request of the Provincial Court.
190. Where any dispute or question arises in relation to the grant or the application for it, or it appears to the Provincial Court doubtful whether or not the grant should be made,-the Provincial Court shall communicate with the Judge of the Supreme Court, who shall either direct the Provincial Court to proceed in the matter according to such instruc- tions as the Judge thinks fit, or may direct that no further proceeding be taken in the matter by the Provincial Court, but that any party concerned may apply for a grant to the Supreme Court itself.
191. The Provincial Court, before proceeding in the matter of any tion of Provin application, shall take care to ascertain that the deceased had at the time of his death his fixed place of abode in the district of the Court, and shall not for this purpose consider itself bound to rest satisfied with such evidence as is offered by the person applying for the grant.
Identity.
Value of property.
Satisfactory
answer to
192. The Court shall, where it deems it necessary, require proof, in addition to the oath of the executor or administrator, of the identity of the deceased or of the party applying for the grant.
193. The Court shall take care to ascertain the value of the property of the deceased as correctly as circumstances admit.
194. In no case shall the Court allow probate or letters of adminis- Court's inquiries tration to issue until all inquiries which it sees fit to institute have been before grunt.
answered to its satisfaction.
Cases in which Judge of
Supreme Court alone may make grant.
The Court shall, however, afford as great facility for the obtaining of probate or administration as is consistent with due regard to the prevention of error and fraud.
195. In the following cases of probate or administration, a grant shall not issue except from the Supreme Court under the immediate direction of the Judge, namely:-
Probate, or administration with will annexed, where the will was executed before the 1st day of January, 1838, and there is no testamentary paper of a later date than the 31st day of December, 1837: