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Inheritance Laws of Guyana

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 A will is a written document that is distributes the estate of the testator. In the United States, we have set statues such as the EPTL and SCPA but in many countries, the laws are a harder to identify. In Guyana, the laws are separated many different statues and areas. To begin in Probate laws, it is necessary to get the approval of the High Court and start the application for Grants of Probate.

In Guyanese Inheritance Laws, anyone can make a will and the testamentary capacity age is 14.  According to United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, no one under the age of 18 has the capacity to enter into a legally bound contract. However, Probate Laws are different. At the age of 14, you are allowed to make a will without the consent of your parent or guardian.  The parliament of Guyana has passed many laws that deal with minors but the age you can inherit and make a will has remained the same. In this country, early deaths are prominent therefore the age a child can become a distributee is lower than most.

Guyanese attorneys are involved in many aspects of law. I was able to find one who has a wide range of skills and does do Probate, Estate and Trust as well as Inheritance. I was unable to locate an attorney who dealt only with Probate. Lawyers in Guyana have to be more diverse and qualified in all areas of law.

You may contact this lawyer for more help in Probate law

http://www.hg.org/attorney/jamela-a-ali-attorney-at-law/47757

In Guyana, Intestacy Laws are vaguely similar to the of New York laws. The estate has to be assigned to an Administrator by the High Court using the Letters of Administration.   Once the Administrator has been assigned, the estate will then be divided based upon the deceased surviving beneficiaries. If the deceased has left a widower and children, the widower gets 1/3 while the children get the remaining 2/3^rdof the estate. If there is no widower, the estate goes to the deceased children and closest relatives.If there are no children, the parents of the deceased will inherit the estate.

Works Cited

"Attorney-at-Law. Trademark & Patent Agent." Estate Administration. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2013.

"The Guyana Association of Women Lawyers - "The Law and You" Series." Welcome. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2013.

"Guyana Updating a Raft of Legislation Promoting Equal Rights." - Caribbean360. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2013.

"The Inheritance [(Family Provisions)] Act : CARICOM Model Legislation on Inheritance." The Inheritance [(Family Provisions)] Act : CARICOM Model Legislation on Inheritance. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2013.

"Under-18s and the Law." Welcome. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2013.