Limited Grants of Administration: A Practical Overview

A concise guide for practitioners and stakeholders

1  |  Statutory basis

Section 19 of the Administration of Estates Law, Cap. 189 empowers the Court to issue limited grants of representation that are:

• time‑bound (pendente lite),
• restricted to specific assets, or
• confined to a special purpose (ad litem, ad colligenda bona, etc.).

Cypriot courts, following Terzian v Terzian (2003) 1Β ΑΑΔ 1252, look to English probate practice for guidance unless local rules dictate otherwise.

2  |  When a limited grant is appropriate

A limited grant should be sought only when (i) no general administrator exists, and (ii) the intended step cannot wait for a full grant.

3  |  Key principles distilled from case‑law

• Necessity & proportionality - The court will refuse over‑broad applications.
• Neutrality preferred - A nominee should, where possible, be independent (Patsalides v Kyriakides (1985) 2 JSC 613).
• Consent essential - No person can be compelled to accept a grant (Nicolette Areti v Marfin Popular Bank, App. 178/2011).
• Creditors as administrators - Permitted only exceptionally; the applicant must justify why a neutral nominee is unavailable (Re Atherton's Goods (1892) P 104).

4  |  Procedure snapshot

1. Ex‑parte affidavit verifying death, absence of full grant, need for limited grant, and written consent of the proposed administrator.
2. Filing of a draft order precisely limiting duration, assets and purpose.
3. Service on those entitled to a general grant-unless urgency justifies dispensation.
4. Security is usually waived for "nil estate" grants.

5  |  The limited administrator's role

A grantee ad litem or pendente lite:

• acts only for the stated purpose (e.g. serving or receiving statutory notices, defending a claim);
• owes no general fiduciary duties to realise or distribute the estate (Andromachi Mina v NBG (Cyprus), App. 376/2011);
• automatically ceases to act once the purpose is fulfilled or the time limit expires.

6  |  Common pitfalls

• Over‑broad drafting ("to act generally on behalf of the estate").
• Conflicted nominee without cogent explanation.
• Failure to notify relatives entitled to a full grant.

7  |  Objecting-or not

Valid objections include: an unnecessary grant where a full administrator is ready to act; a plainly conflicted nominee; or an order wider than the stated purpose.Conversely, collateral disputes (e.g. separate settlement agreements) rarely defeat a tightly drafted limited‑grant application.

8  |  Final thoughts

Limited grants offer a targeted, court‑controlled solution when a procedural dead‑end threatens to stall litigation or statutory processes involving a deceased person. Precision in drafting and thoughtful choice of nominee are the twin safeguards that protect beneficiaries, creditors and third parties alike.