Stamp Act 1815

XXXVIII Ecclesiastical Courts not to grant Probates or Letters of Administration, without Affidavit of the Value of Effects.

And be it further enacted, That from and after the Expiration of Three Calendar Months from the passing of this Act no Ecclesiastical Court or Person shall grant Probate of the Will or Letters of Administration of the Estate and Effects of any Person deceased, without first requiring and receiving from the Person or Persons applying for the Probate or Letters of Administration, or from some other competent Person or Persons, an Affidavit, or solemn Affirmation in the Case of Quakers, that the Estate and Effects of the Deceased for or in respect of which the Probate or Letters of Administration is or are to be granted, exclusive of what the Deceased shall have been possessed of or entitled to as a Trustee for any other Person or Persons, and not beneficially, but including the Leasehold Estates for Years of the Deceased, whether absolute or determinable on Lives, if any, and without deducting anything on account of the Debts due and owing from the Deceased, are under the Value of a certain Sum to be therein specified, to the best of the Deponent's or Affirmant's Knowledge, Information, and Belief, in order that the proper and full Stamp Duty may be paid on such Probate or Letters of Administration ; which Affidavit or Affirmation shall be made before the Surrogate or other Person who shall administer the usual Oath for the due Administration of the Estate and Effects of the Deceased.