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Attending for interview

When you have details of the whole estate, please make an appointment to attend the Sheriff Clerk's Office to complete the application form. If the deceased did not leave a Will, you will need to bring with you proof of your identity (such as a birth certificate or passport).

In some Courts you may be asked to bring two witnesses who can testify to your identity and relationship to the deceased. The witnesses will be put on oath. Ask the Sheriff Clerk in advance if this will be necessary.

The interview normally lasts 30-45 minutes. At the end of the interview you will have to make a Declaration that the details and information are true and complete.

You can ask your local Sheriff Clerk to complete the inventory for you even if the person who died lived in an area covered by a different Sheriff Court.

It is possible to gain Confirmation by post, but we do not recommend this.