Merchant Shipping Act, 1894

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Payment over of property of deceased seamen by Board of Trade.

176.—(1) Where any property of a deceased seaman or apprentice comes into the hands of the Board of Trade, or any agent of that Board, the Board of Trade, after deducting for expenses incurred in respect of that seaman or apprentice or of his property such sum as they think proper to allow, shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, deal with the residue as follows:—

(a) If the property exceeds in value one hundred pounds, they shall pay and deliver the residue to the legal personal representative of the deceased

(b) If the property do not exceed in value one hundred pounds, the Board may as they think fit either pay or deliver the residue to any claimant who is proved to their satisfaction to be the widow or a child of the deceased, or to be entitled to the personalty of the deceased either under his will (if any) or any statute of distribution or otherwise, or to be a person entitled to take out representation, although no such representation has been taken out, and shall be thereby discharged from all further liability in respect of the residue so paid or delivered; or

(c) They may, if they think fit, require representation to be taken out, and pay and deliver the residue to the legal personal representative of the deceased.

(2) Every person to whom any such residue is so paid or delivered shall apply the same in due course of administration.