27 Protection by means of advertisements.E+W
(1)With a view to the conveyance to or distribution among the persons entitled to any real or personal property, the trustees of a settlement [F1, trustees of land, trustees for sale of personal property] or personal representatives, may give notice by advertisement in the Gazette, and [F2in a newspaper circulating in the district in which the land is situated] and such other like notices, including notices elsewhere than in England and Wales, as would, in any special case, have been directed by a court of competent jurisdiction in an action for administration, of their intention to make such conveyance or distribution as aforesaid, and requiring any person interested to send to the trustees or personal representatives within the time, not being less than two months, fixed in the notice or, where more than one notice is given, in the last of the notices, particulars of his claim in respect of the property or any part thereof to which the notice relates.
(2)At the expiration of the time fixed by the notice the trustees or personal representatives may convey or distribute the property or any part thereof to which the notice relates, to or among the persons entitled thereto, having regard only to the claims, whether formal or not, of which the trustees or personal representatives then had notice and shall not, as respects the property so conveyed or distributed, be liable to any person of whose claim the trustees or personal representatives have not had notice at the time of conveyance or distribution; but nothing in this section—
(a)prejudices the right of any person to follow the property, or any property representing the same, into the hands of any person, other than a purchaser, who may have received it; or
(b)frees the trustees or personal representatives from any obligation to make searches or obtain official certificates of search similar to those which an intending purchaser would be advised to make or obtain.
(3)This section applies notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the will or other instrument, if any, creating the trust.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 27(1) substituted (1.1.1997) by 1996 c. 47, s. 25(1), Sch. 3 para. 3(7) (with ss. 24(2), 25(4)); S.I. 1996/2974, art.2
F2Words substituted by Law of Property (Amendment) Act 1926 (c. 11), Sch.