What has to happen before an estate can be dealt with, who inherits when there is no will, and how long each step takes. Each question below is answered on its own page, by reference to the law of Trinidad and Tobago.
These questions belong to Wills, Probate and Administration of Estates, the practice page that sets out how such a matter is run.
Last reviewed 22 September 2026
Questions on wills, probate and estates
- How long does probate take in Trinidad and Tobago? No law fixes how long probate or letters of administration take. An ordinary application is advertised for at least 2 weeks and cannot go to court until 3 weeks after the first advertisement. Then it depends on complete papers, the Registrar's queries and any caveat. Taking over the estate without a grant within 3 months of the death can be an offence. Wait until the time for family claims has passed before distributing.
- What happens if someone dies without a will in Trinidad and Tobago? The estate is shared under a fixed order in the Administration of Estates Act. A husband or wife with no children or other descendants takes everything. With children, the spouse takes half and the children share the rest. With no spouse or descendants, it goes to parents, then brothers and sisters, and further out. If no spouse survives, a qualifying unmarried partner takes the spouse's share, but must act within 28 days of the death.
- What are letters of administration, and how do I get them? Letters of administration are the High Court's grant appointing an administrator to collect and distribute the estate of someone who died without a will, after paying the debts. The surviving spouse has the first right to apply, then the next of kin. Where there is a will but no executor able and willing to act, the grant is made with the will annexed. Except in some very small estates, the application goes through an attorney-at-law.
Important notice. This page is general information about the law of Trinidad and Tobago. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. The law changes, and how it applies depends on the facts, so take advice on your own situation before you act. Court decisions are cited for the principle they state; similar results cannot be guaranteed, and a decision may be subject to appeal or change.
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Commentary / Wills, probate and estates
Wills, Probate and Estates in Trinidad and Tobago
By Suraj Sakal, Attorney-at-Law, called to the Bar of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago