Administration of Estates Act 1925

Administration of Estates Act 1925
England and Wales
Date passed	1925
Summary
Changed the historical rules of inheritance
Status: In force

The Administration of Estates Act 1925 is a law passed in 1925 in England and Wales that changed the historical rules of inheritance for example gavelkind and primogeniture to that of modern-day norms. This statute does not apply to Scotland or to Northern Ireland.

The law was tested when a son murdered his mother, she had not made a will and her son stood to inherit her entire estate from her death. The statute was clear in this case however, the son stood to benefit from his crime which would have been unjust. The Golden rule is used in cases where uses of the literal rule would result in an absurdity. The case in question was R v Sigsworth [1935]1 Ch 89 Judgement date: 1934-10-05, and using the golden rule, the son did not inherit anything.

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