chain of executorship (or representation)

A rule under the Administration of Estates Act 1925 by which the executor of someone who was himself a sole or surviving executor stands on the latter’s death in his place as executor of the testator who appointed him. Thus if A appoints B as his only executor and B in turn appoints C as his own executor, on the death of A and B, C becomes the executor of both. The rule does not apply on intestacy or to an administrator, and the chain is broken by the failure of a testator to appoint an executor or a failure to obtain probate. See also *de bonis non administratis.