Dear Editor,
I would like to highlight a hardship being encountered by many people in Guyana when it comes to having a will probated.
The process takes between 6 months to 1 year from the time the documents are lodged at the Probate Section of the Registry to the time approval is granted. The same situation exists if a will is being re-sealed.
Oftentimes people depend on the proceeds of wills to settle claims related to the deceased persons, such as funerals and other expenses. Beneficiaries tend to suffer also as a result of the deterioration of certain assets.
I have lodged documents at the Registry since last February to have a will re-sealed and to date I am still awaiting the approval of this application. This is an unacceptable situation. The beneficiaries of the will are awaiting the proceeds of the sale of some shares to undertake an economic transaction which due to this delay might not come to fruition.
My understanding is that the Honourable Chief Justice must verify and approve all applications. I know that Her Honour has a heavy workload, and this might be one reason why there is a backlog of applications, but some system should be put in place to clear this backlog so that applicants would not have to suffer.
It is difficult for one to disabuse one’s mind of the notion that recent applications are placed on top of the existing pile by staff handling those documents so that early attention would be given to them.
I can only hope that something is done to speed up the process so that people can carry on with their lives.
Sincerely,
Rajnarine Singh
