IHTM05104 - Types of grant: confirmation (Scotland)

Confirmation is the legal evidence of the personal representative’s ( IHTM05012) authority to manage the deceased’s estate: whether testate ( IHTM12047) or intestate ( IHTM12141). It is a decree of the Sheriff Court authorising the personal representative to ‘uplift, receive, administer and dispose of’ the estate'. As such confirmation is conclusive proof as to the validity of the will (IHTM1200), if any, and of the executor's office.

Confirmation is granted by

• the Sheriff Court of the sheriff court district in which the deceased was domiciled ( IHTM13001) at the death, or
• the Commissary Office, 27 Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LB if
  
  
• • the deceased was domiciled in the Edinburgh Sheriff Court District, or
  • the deceased had no fixed or known domicile except that they were domiciled in Scotland, or
  • the deceased was not domiciled in the United Kingdom

In order to obtain confirmation the personal representative must complete a full inventory ( IHTM05025) of the heritable and moveable estate. They will also have to submit ( IHTM05061) anIHT400 ( IHTM10021) unless the estate is an excepted estate ( IHTM05021).

Once confirmation has been issued the executor can get his hands on the assets so that banks on sight of the grant will pay over any accounts, shares can be transferred into the names of the executors, etc.

If it is subsequently discovered that an asset was omitted from the confirmation the personal representative can either obtain an eik to the confirmation ( IHTM05092) or a grant of confirmation ad omissa ( IHTM05105).