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Bond of Caution

If the deceased did not leave a Will and you are not the spouse/civil partner, you will need to obtain a Bond of Caution before Confirmation is issued. This is an insurance against someone applying for Confirmation when they are not entitled to do so or an executor failing to distribute the estate according to law.

After applying for Confirmation at the Sheriff Clerk's Office, the executor takes the form to an insurance company to obtain a Bond. The insurance company will charge a fee for this. The executor returns the application for Confirmation and the Bond along with any fee payable to the Sheriff Clerk's Office, which will prepare the Confirmation without delay.