The Gazette 1955-58

tion necessary for assessment application the assessment is made forthwith. In other cases queries are raised and on receipt of replies the cases are re-examined within one week. In difficult or unusual cases the periods will be somewhat longer. Where cases are referred to the Valuation Office a delay of about six weeks may be expected. In cases concerning important properties, where there is no recent available information in the official records the necessity for inspection may cause a delay of some months. Estate Duty Office. (Official reference 13376/38, 21/11/56). Owing to the fact that the time and labour involved in the examination of an affidavit or account varies within wide limits it is impossible to state the normal period between date of delivery and raising of queries. Every effort is made to ensure that the administration of estates is not held up unduly by delays in the office. Instructions have been issued that all queries on an affidavit or account should be raised in the first instance and that new questions should not normally be raised on re-examination of the case on replies to the initial queries. In cases in which official business is not transacted within the times stated above members should take the matter up with the Department concerned, and, if necessary, communicate with the Society (having first satisfied themselves that the delay is not due to any defect in the application or omission on the part of the solicitors). VALUATION OF PROPERTY FOR DEATH DUTIES AND STAMP DUTIES. IN cases where questions of value of chattels, real property and real estate are referred to the Com missioner of Valuation by the Estate Duty Office the solicitors on record are notified by letter in Form 87 P. or 87 S. The Council made representations to the Revenue Commissioners that a similar practice should be adopted in the case of stamp duty assessments. The Revenue Commissioners have agreed that where questions of value in this connection are referred to the Commissioners of Valuation the solicitor will be notified and may communicate directly with the Valuation Office with a view to saving time. The adjudication number will be accepted as the reference in the Valuation Office. REGISTRY OF DEEDS (FEES) ORDER 1956—(S.I. No. 287 of 1956). THE Registry of Deeds (Fees) Order 1956 came into force on ist January, 195 7 and increases substantially the fees payable in the Registry of Deeds. Hence- is supplied with

order. The copy map issued within a week of receipt of the fee. The times given for supplying copies of documents and maps are those taken if the document is readily available for copying and is not exceptionally lengthy or abstruse. In some cases the document may be in a provincial office or the Land Registry and cannot be copied until it has been returned. The Land Commission point out that it is of the utmost importance that the up-to-date payer's name and the Land Commission Collection No. (not the 'Land Registry Folio No.), should be correctly stated in the application where relevant. Solicitors should verify the particulars by inspection of the latest Receivable Order. Registry of Deeds. (Official reference Land Registry 27/9/56). The time taken to complete a search varies widely in accordance with the number and frequency of the names, the number of denominations of land in parishes, baronies and counties and the length of the periods of search. The holiday June to September, the expediting of searches and the discharging of queries all conspire to increase the normal time taken to complete searches. Taking the whole year however the average time taken to complete a negative search is about four weeks from date of lodgment and a common search about three weeks. Probate Office. A grant of Probate or Administration will be issued approximately 14 days after lodgment of the papers in order. Owing to rather unusual staffing, difficulties which it is hoped to overcome in the near future, there may be cases of greater delay in the issue of grants. A certified copy of a Will and Grant of Probate will normally be supplied within 10 to 14 days from the date of the application to the Probate Office. Accountant's Office. Drafts for payment are usually ready for issue within a week or ten days from the date of lodgment of the schedule in the Accountant's Office, unless there is delay in production of supplemental docu ments required by the Order. When a sale of securities is necessary payment cannot be made until lodgment of the proceeds is made by the court broker. Revenue Commissioners Stamp Duty branch. (Official reference I.R. 10402/1427/56, 15/11/56). Instruments submitted for adjudication are examined and the results notified to the applicants within one week of receipt. Where all the informa­