Making the right choice

There is a general school of thought that if an individual has Jersey assets—movable or personal—then a Jersey Will should be prepared. This is not always the case. If the Jersey assets are held in trust, or in joint names with another, a Jersey Grant will not be required so there is no need for a Jersey Will.

Further, if a person dies domiciled in the UK (England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Guernsey and Isle of Man) and a UK Grant has already been obtained, an application for a Greffier’s Certificate of Jersey Grant of Probate, or Letters of Administration (if the person died intestate) can be applied for. The Certificate is obtained through the “fast-track” procedure and as the name suggests, the Certificate can be obtained quicker and at less expense than applying for a Jersey Grant. In the case of a UK domiciliary therefore, a Jersey Will is not always recommended.

However, a Jersey Will may be appropriate if, for example,