CHINA: An Introduction to Trusts, Probate & Succession: The Bar

Trusts play an indispensable role in Hong Kong, serving critical functions across asset management, family estate planning, commercial transactions, unit trust investments, and share ownership arrangements. They offer significant benefits such as asset protection, smooth wealth transfer, and business continuity. Charitable trusts further encourage individuals to support social causes, providing tax advantages that facilitate philanthropic objectives while benefiting the broader community.

Hong Kong’s trust law is rooted in equity principles and statutory provisions, particularly the Trustee Ordinance (Cap 29). It is consistent with the principles of other common law jurisdictions and provides a clear framework that defines the roles and responsibilities of trustees and the entitlements of beneficiaries. This legal clarity enhances the effectiveness of Hong Kong’s trust services sector, solidifying its status as a global hub for asset management.

Dispute resolution and compliance with legal requirements are critical components of trust law practice. In Hong Kong, express trusts are primarily governed by established legal principles derived from case law. Resulting and constructive trusts frequently arise in both commercial and domestic contexts, with case law evolving to reflect judicial interpretations that address the complexities of modern transactions.

While trusts are central to estate planning, probate involves the legal administration of a deceased person’s estate, ensuring assets are distributed according to the will or, in the absence of a valid will, under intestacy laws. The administration of estates in Hong Kong is governed by the Probate and Administration Ordinance (Cap 10), the Wills Ordinance (Cap 30), and the Intestates’ Estates Ordinance (Cap 73).

For a will to be valid in Hong Kong, it must meet specific legal requirements. An executor, appointed in the will, is responsible for managing the deceased’s estate, including handling probate applications, safeguarding assets, settling debts and taxes, and distributing the estate to beneficiaries. Executors owe fiduciary duties to act in the best interests of the estate and its beneficiaries. If a person dies without a valid will, their estate is distributed in accordance with the Intestates’ Estates Ordinance. In cases where no executor is appointed or able to act, the court may appoint an administrator to perform similar duties, including applying for letters of administration.

Estate administration involves gathering information, managing assets, and distributing them to beneficiaries while fulfilling all legal obligations.

• First, executors or administrators must compile a comprehensive inventory of the estate, which includes real estate, bank accounts, investments, and personal belongings. This process requires engaging with banks, insurance companies, and government departments to retrieve essential documents such as wills, trust agreements, and financial statements through thorough searches.
• Next, obtaining a grant of representation is essential to gain the legal authority to manage the estate. This involves submitting key documents, including the original will, death certificate, and probate application form, along with a detailed statement of the estate’s assets and liabilities. In certain cases, notices may need to be issued to inform potential creditors.
• Once the grant of representation is obtained, executors or administrators are responsible for collecting and securing all assets. Before distributing these assets, they must settle any outstanding debts, such as funeral expenses, medical bills, and taxes.
• The final step is the distribution of assets to beneficiaries in accordance with the deceased’s wishes outlined in the will, or in line with intestacy laws if no valid will exists.

Estate administration can often be contentious due to its complexity and the involvement of multiple interested parties. Disputes commonly arise over issues such as the validity of the will, the identification and valuation of assets, the identification of rightful beneficiaries, the settlement of debts, and claims from creditors or among beneficiaries. These conflicts are frequently driven by emotional factors, conflicting interests, and the significant stakes involved. As a result, legal practitioners and third-party professionals are often engaged to resolve disputes and ensure the administration process is carried out smoothly and lawfully.

Governed by the Probate and Administration Ordinance, the probate process ensures the efficient and legal management of a deceased’s estate. A probate judgment, being in rem, binds all rival claimants once adjudicated.

The Ordinance also provides a statutory mechanism for the court to exercise discretion in appointing a qualified person as the administrator of a deceased’s estate. During the estate administration process, the court may issue different types of grants, depending on the specific circumstances of probate practice.

• When the grantee has died without fully administering the estate, a further or new grant is required to appoint a personal representative in respect of the unadministered estate, which is commonly known as grant de bonis non.
• Where an estate of a deceased is at risk due to delays in its administration, an ad colligenda bona grant may be ordered to preserve the estate.
• A grant pendente lite will be issued when there is a pending probate claim. It can also be issued for the limited purpose of prosecuting an action in respect of a particular asset of an estate before the resolution of a probate action.

Another significant aspect worth mentioning is caveat proceedings. When a person wishes to stop a grant from being sealed, he/she may enter a caveat as the caveator. Once a caveat is entered, if the applicant for a grant wishes to dispose of it, he/she may issue a warning (as the person warning), requiring the caveator to give particulars of any contrary interest. A caveator having a contrary interest may enter an appearance, and if the caveator does not have any contrary interest, he/she may still enter an appearance.

2025大中华区法律指南：

香港信托、遗嘱认证及继承概览（香港大律师篇）

信托在香港发挥着不可或缺的作用。在资产管理、家族遗产规划、商业交易、单位信托基金投资及股份拥有权安排等，它们为客户资产提供安全保障，并且在财富顺利转移、传承以及保证持续性的过程中发挥着至关重要的作用。另一方面，以税务优惠为诱因，慈善信托鼓励客户支持公益事业，实现个人慈善愿景，造福社群。

香港信托法基于衡平法原则和法定条文，例如《受托人条例》（第29章），与其他普通法司法管辖区的原则相一致，一脉相承。这一法律基础为受托人的角色、责任以及受益人权益提供了明确的法律框架。清晰明确的法律不仅提升了香港信托服务业的运作效率，还进一步巩固了香港作为全球资产管理中心的地位。

解决争议与确保合规性是信托、遗嘱认证及继承这一领域的重要层面。在香港，明示信托（express trust）通常遵循判例法确立的法律原则。归复信托（resulting trust）和推定信托（constructive trust）亦频繁地被应用于商业和家庭事务之中。同时，法庭的判例具有不断演变发展的性质，当前市场交易的错综复杂性以及持续变化亦反映其中。

信托在遗产规划中起着重要的作用，而遗嘱认证则涉及对已故者遗产进行法律管理的关键环节，确保资产按照遗嘱或无遗嘱法律进行分配。香港的遗产管理主要受《遗嘱认证及管理条例》（第10章）、《遗嘱条例》（第30章）和《无遗嘱遗产条例》（第73章）的规管。

在香港，一份有效的遗嘱必须符合特定的要求。遗嘱执行人是在遗嘱中被指定管理已故者遗产的人。如已故者在世时没有订立有效遗嘱，其遗产将根据《无遗嘱者遗产条例》进行分配。

遗嘱执行人负责处理遗嘱认证申请、管理已故者的资产、为其清偿债务和处理税款，并将遗产分配给受益人等事宜。他们负有受信责任（fiduciary duty），必须以遗产及其受益人的最佳利益行事。如果没有遗嘱或遗嘱执行人无法履行职责或行事，法庭有权任命一位遗产管理人履行与遗嘱执行人类似的职责，包括申请遗产管理书（letters of administration）等。

遗产管理包括收集信息、管理资产，以及将资产分配给受益人，同时履行以下法律义务：

• 遗嘱执行人或遗产管理人应当编制真切及完整的遗产清单，包括不动产、银行账户、投资和个人物品等。此外，他们应与银行、保险公司和政府部门进行沟通，并通过全面的搜寻检索，以找到遗嘱、信托协议、财务报表等重要文件。
• 为取得合法处理遗产的权利，遗嘱执行人或遗产管理人必须申请授予书（grant of representation）。这需要提交遗嘱原件、死亡证明、遗嘱认证申请表等文件，以及详细的资产与负债表，并在必要时发出通知告知潜在的债权人。
• 一旦获得授予书，遗嘱执行人或遗产管理人可以收集和保管所有资产。在分配资产之前，他们应当结清未偿还的债务，包括丧葬费用、医疗账单和税款等。
• 最后，遗嘱执行人或遗产管理人应当根据已故者在遗嘱中的意愿或遵循《无遗嘱者遗产条例》将资产分配给受益人。

遗产管理因其复杂性和涉及众多利益相关方的特性，而经常引发争议。这些争议通常涉及遗嘱的有效性、资产鉴定和估价、合法受益人、债务结算清偿、债权人申索或遗产受益人之间的申索等问题。鉴于这类冲突又往往受到情感因素、利益冲突和重大利害关系所驱动，因此，解决这些问题更需要法律从业人士和第三方专业人士的参与，協助尋求解決方案。

遗嘱认证程序则遵循《遗嘱认证及遗产管理条例》的规定，以确保遗产得到高效、合法的管理。同时，遗嘱认证判决是“in rem”的判决，一经裁定，即对所有对立申索人具有约束力。

法庭还可以通过法定机制行使酌情决定权，指定一名合资格人士担任已故者的遗产管理人。在遗产管理过程中，法庭可根据遗嘱认证案件中的具体情况颁发不同类型的授予书，例如：

• 当承办人在未完全管理遗产的情况下去世时，法庭可进一步签发授予书或签发新的授予书，以委任遗产代理人来管理尚未管理的遗产。这就是通常所说的 “未作管理遗产授予书”（Grant de bonis non）。
• 如果已故者的遗产因管理延误而面临任何风险，法庭可下令 “为收存财产而授予遗产管理”（ad colligenda bona）以保全遗产。
• 在遗嘱认证申请尚处于待决状态时，法庭有权颁发“诉讼待决期间授予书”（Grant pendente lite）。在遗嘱认证诉讼尚未解决之前，亦可仅针对遗产中的某项资产的诉讼需求，颁发相应的授予书。

另一个在香港遗嘱认证程序中值得一提的重要方面是知会备忘录程序（caveat proceedings）：

• 任何人如欲确保任何授予书不会在他本人不知悉的情况下获盖章，可将知会备忘在承办处登记；
• 承办处可应任何有利害关系的人(称为提出警告的人)的要求，以指明表格就知会备忘发出警告，该项警告须述明该人的权益，如该人是根据一份遗嘱提出申索，则述明该遗嘱的日期，该警告书并须规定知会备忘登记人就其可能在死者遗产中享有的任何对立权益提供详情；而每项警告均须送达知会备忘登记人。
• 知会备忘登记人如拥有与提出警告的人对立的权益，可于该警告送达他後，藉着提交适当的指明表格及在适当的簿册上登记的方式而在承办处呈交应诉书；以及
• 知会备忘登记人如无拥有与提出警告的人对立的权益，但拟就给予提出警告的人的授予书的盖章提出反对因由，则可于该警告送达后，就该项警告呈交应诉书，并发出及送达一份请求指示的传票，传讯各当事人到司法常务官席前。