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SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - LONG TITLE An Act to consolidate and amend the Law relating to Leases and Sales of Settled Estates.{1} [28th June 1877] Preamble rep. by SLR 1894 SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 1 Short title. 1. This Act may be cited for all purposes as the Settled Estates Act, 1877. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 2 Interpretation of ""settlement'' and ""settled estates''. 2. The word "settlement" as used in this Act shall signify any Act of Parliament, deed, agreement, copy of court roll, will, or other instrument, or any number of such instruments, under or by virtue of which any hereditaments of any tenure or any estates or interests in any such hereditaments stand limited to or in trust for any persons by way of succession, including any such instruments affecting the estates of any one or more of such persons exclusively. The term "settled estates" as used in this Act shall signify all hereditaments of any tenure, and all estates or interests in any such hereditaments, which are the subject of a settlement; and for the purposes of this Act a tenant-in-tail after possibility of issue extinct shall be deemed to be a tenant for life. All estates or interests in remainder or reversion not disposed of by the settlement, and reverting to a settlor or descending to the heir of a testator, shall be deemed to be estates coming to such settlor or heir under or by virtue of the settlement. In determining what are settled estates within the meaning of this Act, the Court shall be governed by the state of facts, and by the trusts or limitations of the settlement at the time of the said settlement taking effect. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 3 Interpretation of ""the Court''. 3. ... The expression "the Court" in this Act shall, so far as relates to estates in Ireland, means the [High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland]. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 4 Power to authorise leases of settled estates. 4. It shall be lawful for the Court, if it shall deem it proper and consistent with a due regard for the interests of all parties entitled under the settlement, and subject to the provisions and restrictions in this Act contained, to authorise leases of any settled estates, or of any rights or privileges over or affecting any settled estates, for any purpose whatsoever, whether involving waste or not, provided the following conditions be observed: First. Every such lease shall be made to take effect in possession at or within one year next after the making thereof, and shall be for a term of years not exceeding for an agricultural or occupation lease, ... so far as relates to estates in Ireland thirty-five years, and for a mining lease or a lease of water mills, way leaves, water leaves, or other rights or easements forty years, and for a repairing lease sixty years, and for a building lease ninety-nine years: Provided always, that any such lease (except an agricultural lease) may be for such term of years as the Court shall direct, where the Court shall be satisfied that it is the usual custom of the district and beneficial to the inheritance to grant such a lease for a longer term than the term herein-before specified in that behalf: Secondly. On every such lease shall be reserved the best rent or reservation in the nature of rent, either uniform or not, that can be reasonably obtained, to be made payable half yearly or oftener without taking any fine or other benefit in the nature of a fine: Provided always, that in the case of a mining lease, a repairing lease, or a building lease a peppercorn rent or any smaller rent than the rent to be ultimately made payable may, if the Court shall think fit so to direct, be made payable during all or any part of the first five years of the term of the lease: Thirdly. Where the lease is of any earth, coal, stone, or mineral, a certain portion of the whole rent or payment reserved shall be from time to time set aside and invested as herein-after mentioned, namely, when and so long as the person for the time being entitled to the receipt of such rent is a person who by reason of his estate or by virtue of any declaration in the settlement is entitled to work such earth, coal, stone, or mineral for his own benefit, one fourth part of such rent, and otherwise three fourth parts thereof; and in every such lease sufficient provision shall be made to ensure such application of the aforesaid portion of the rent by the appointment of trustees or otherwise as the Court shall deem expedient: Fourthly. No such lease shall authorise the felling of any trees except so far as shall be necessary for the purpose of clearing the ground for any buildings, excavations, or other works authorised by the lease: Fifthly. Every such lease shall be by deed, and the lessee shall execute a counterpart thereof, and every such lease shall contain a condition for re-entry on non-payment of the rent for a period of twenty-eight days after it becomes due, or for some less period to be specified in that behalf. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 5 Leases may contain special covenants. 5. Subject and in addition to the conditions herein-before mentioned, every such lease shall contain such covenants, conditions, and stipulations as the Court shall deem expedient with reference to the special circumstances of the demise. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 6 Parts of settled estates may be leased. 6. The power to authorise leases conferred by this Act shall extend to authorise leases either of the whole or any parts of the settled estates, and may be exercised from time to time. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 7 Leases may be surrendered and renewed. 7. Any leases, whether granted in pursuance of this Act or otherwise, may be surrendered either for the purpose of obtaining a renewal of the same or not; and the power to authorise leases conferred by this Act shall extend to authorise new leases of the whole or any part of the hereditaments comprised in any surrendered lease. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 8 Preliminary contracts authorised. 8. The power to authorise leases conferred by this Act shall extend to authorise preliminary contracts to grant any such leases, and any of the terms of such contracts may be varied in the leases. S.9 rep. by SLR (NI) 1954 SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 10 Mode of authorising leases. 10. The power to authorise leases conferred by this Act may be exercised by the Court either by approving of particular leases or by ordering that powers of leasing, in conformity with the provisions of this Act, shall be vested in trustees in manner herein-after mentioned. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 11 Evidence on application to authorise leases. 11. When application is made to the Court either to approve of a particular lease or to vest any powers of leasing in trustees, the Court shall require the applicant to produce such evidence as it shall deem sufficient to enable it to ascertain the nature, value and circumstances of the estate, and the terms and conditions on which leases thereof ought to be authorised. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 12 After approval of a lease, Court to direct who shall be the lessor. 12. When a particular lease or contract for a lease has been approved by the Court, the Court shall direct what person or persons shall execute the same as lessor; and the lease or contract executed by such person or persons shall take effect in all respects as if he or they was or were at the time of the execution thereof absolutely entitled to the whole estate or interest which is bound by the settlement, and had immediately afterwards settled the same according to the settlement, and so as to operate (if necessary) by way of revocation and appointment of the use or otherwise, as the Court shall direct. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 13 Powers of leasing may be vested in trustees. 13. Where the Court shall deem it expedient that any general powers of leasing any settled estates conformably to this Act should be vested in trustees, it may by order vest any such power accordingly either in the existing trustees of the settlement or in any other persons, and such powers, when exercised by such trustees, shall take effect in all respects as if the power so vested in them had been originally contained in the settlement, and so as to operate (if necessary) by way of revocation and appointment of the use or otherwise, as the Court shall direct; and in every such case the Court, if it shall think fit, may impose any conditions as to consents or otherwise on the exercise of such power, and the Court may also authorise the insertion of provisions for the appointment of new trustees from time to time for the purpose of exercising such powers of leasing as aforesaid. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 14 Conditions that leases be settled by the Court not to be inserted in orders made under this Act. 14. Provided always, that in orders under this Act for vesting any powers of leasing in any trustees or other persons, no conditions shall be inserted requiring that the leases thereby authorised should be submitted to or be settled by the Court or a judge thereof, or be made conformable with a model lease deposited in the judge's chambers, save only in any case in which the parties applying for the order may desire to have any such condition inserted, or in which it shall appear to the Court that there is some special reason rendering the insertion of such a condition necessary or expedient. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 15 Conditions where inserted may be struck out. 15. Provided also, that in all cases of orders (whether under this Act or under the corresponding enactment of the Acts hereby repealed) in which any such condition as last aforesaid shall have been inserted, it shall be lawful for any party interested to apply to the Court to alter and amend such order by striking out such condition, and the Court shall have full power to alter the same accordingly, and the order so altered shall have the same validity as if it had originally been made in its altered state; but nothing herein contained shall make it obligatory on the Court to act under this provision in any case in which from the evidence which was before it when the order sought to be altered was made, or from any other evidence, it shall appear to the Court that there is any special reason why in the case in question such a condition is necessary or expedient. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 16 Court may authorise sales of settled estates and of timber. 16. It shall be lawful for the Court, if it shall deem it proper and consistent with a due regard for the interests of all parties entitled under the settlement, and subject to the provisions and restrictions in this Act contained, from time to time to authorise a sale of the whole or any parts of any settled estates or of any timber (not being ornamental timber) growing on any settled estates, and every such sale shall be conducted and confirmed in the same manner as by the rules and practice of the Court for the time being is or shall be required in the sale of lands sold under a decree of the Court. S.17 rep. by 1882 c.38 s.64 sch. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 18 Consideration for land sold for building may be a fee-farm rent. 18. When any land is sold for building purposes it shall be lawful for the Court, if it shall see fit, to allow the whole or any part of the consideration to be a rent issuing out of such land, which may be secured and settled in such manner as the Court shall approve. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 19 Minerals, &c., may be excepted from sales. 19. On any sale of land, any earth, coal, stone, or mineral may be excepted, and any rights or privileges may be reserved, and the purchaser may be required to enter into any covenants or submit to any restrictions which the Court may deem advisable. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 20 Court may authorise dedication of any part of settled estates for streets, roads, and other works. 20. It shall be lawful for the Court if it shall deem it proper and consistent with a due regard for the interests of all parties entitled under the settlement, and subject to the provisions and restrictions in this Act contained, from time to time to direct that any part of any settled estates be laid out for streets, roads, paths, squares, gardens, or other open spaces, sewers, drains, or watercourses, either to be dedicated to the public or not; and the Court may direct that the parts so laid out shall remain vested in the trustees of the settlement, or be conveyed to or vested in any other trustees upon such trusts for securing the continued appropriation thereof to the purposes aforesaid in all respects, and with such provisions for the appointment of new trustees when required, as by the Court shall be deemed advisable. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 21 Laying out and making and executing and maintaining streets, roads, and other works, and expenses thereof. 21. Where any part of any settled estates is directed to be laid out for such purposes as aforesaid, the Court may direct that any such streets, roads, paths, squares, gardens, or other open spaces, sewers, drains, or watercourses, including all necessary or proper fences, pavings, connexions, and other works incidental thereto respectively, be made and executed, and that all or any part of the expenses in relation to such laying out and making and execution be raised and paid by means of a sale or mortgage of or charge upon all or any part of the settled estates, or be raised and paid out of the rents and profits of the settled estates or any part thereof, or out of any moneys or investments representing moneys liable to be laid out in the purchase of hereditaments to be settled in the same manner as the settled estates, or out of the income of such moneys or investments, or out of any accumulations of rents, profits, or income; and the Court may also give such directions as it may deem advisable for any repair or maintenance of any such streets, roads, paths, squares, gardens, or other open spaces, sewers, drains, or watercourses, or other works, out of any such rents, profits, income, or accumulations during such period or periods of time as to the Court shall seem advisable. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 22 Mode of effecting sales and dedications under direction of the Court. 22. On every sale or dedication to be effected as herein-before mentioned the Court may direct what person or persons shall execute the deed of conveyance; and the deed executed by such person or persons shall take effect as if the settlement had contained a power enabling such person or persons to effect such sale or dedication, and so as to operate (if necessary) by way of revocation and appointment of the use or otherwise, as the Court shall direct. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 23 Application by petition to exercise powers of Act. 23. Any person entitled to the possession or to the receipt of the rents and profits of any settled estates for a term of years determinable on his death, or for an estate for life or any greater estate, and also any person entitled to the possession or to the receipt of the rents and profits of any settled estates as the assignee of any person who but for such assignment would be entitled to such estates for a term of years determinable with any life, or for an estate for any life or greater estate, may apply to the Court by petition in a summary way to exercise the powers conferred by this Act. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 24 Consents to applications. 24. Subject to the exceptions herein-after contained, every application to the Court must be made with the concurrence or consent of the following parties namely, Where there is a tenant-in-tail under the settlement in existence and of full age, then the parties to concur or consent shall be such tenant-in-tail, or if there is more than one such tenant-in-tail, then the first of such tenants-in-tail and all persons in existence having any beneficial estate or interest under or by virtue of the settlement prior to the estate of such tenant-in-tail, and all trustees having any estate or interest on behalf of any unborn child prior to the estate of such tenant-in-tail; And in every other case the parties to concur or consent shall be all the persons in existence having any beneficial estate or interest under or by virtue of the settlement, and also all trustees having any estate or interest on behalf of any unborn child. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 25 Court may dispense with consent in respect of certain estates. 25. Provided always, that where an infant is tenant-in-tail under the settlement, it shall be lawful for the Court, if it shall think fit, to dispense with the concurrence or consent of the person, if only one, or all or any of the persons, if more than one, entitled, whether beneficially or otherwise, to any estate or interest subsequent to the estate tail of such infant. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 26 Notice to persons not consenting to or concurring in application. 26. Provided always, that where on an application under this Act the concurrence or consent of any such person as aforesaid shall not have been obtained, notice shall be given to such person in such manner as the Court to which the application shall be made shall direct, requiring him to notify within a time to be specified in such notice whether he assents to or dissents from such application, or submits his rights or interests so far as they may be affected by such application to be dealt with by the Court, and every such notice shall specify to whom and in what manner such notification is to be delivered or left. In case no notification shall be delivered or left in accordance with the notice and within the time thereby limited, the person to or for whom such notice shall have been given or left shall be deemed to have submitted his rights and interests to be dealt with by the Court. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 27 Court may dispense with notice under certain circumstances. 27. Provided also, that where on an application under this Act the concurrence or consent of any such person as aforesaid shall not have been obtained, and in case such person cannot be found, or in case it shall be uncertain whether he be living or dead, or in case it shall appear to the Court that such notice as aforesaid cannot be given to such person without expense disproportionate to the value of the subject-matter of the application, then and in any such case the Court, if it shall think fit, either on the ground of the rights or interests of such person being small or remote, or being similar to the rights or interests of any other person or persons, or on any other ground, may by order dispense with notice to such person, and such person shall thereupon be deemed to have submitted his rights and interests to be dealt with by the Court. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 28 Court may dispense with consent, having regard to the number and interests of parties. 28. An order may be made upon any application notwithstanding that the concurrence or consent of any such person as aforesaid shall not have been obtained or shall have been refused, but the Court in considering the application shall have regard to the number of persons who concur in or consent to the application, and who dissent therefrom or who submit or are to be deemed to submit their rights or interests to be dealt with by the Court, and to the estates or interests which such persons respectively have or claim to have in the estate as to which such application is made; and every order of the Court made upon such application shall have the same effect as if all such persons had been consenting parties thereto. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 29 Petition may be granted without consent, saving rights of non-consenting parties. 29. Provided nevertheless, that it shall be lawful for the Court, if it shall think fit, to give effect to any petition subject to and so as not to affect the rights estate or interest of any person whose concurrence or consent has been refused, or who has not submitted or is not deemed to have submitted his rights or interests to be dealt with by the Court, or whose rights estate or interest ought in the opinion of the Court to be excepted. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 30 Notice of application to be served on all trustees, &c. 30. Notice of any application to the Court under this Act shall be served on all trustees who are seised or possessed of any estate in trust for any person whose consent or concurrence to or in the application is hereby required, and on any other parties who in the opinion of the Court ought to be so served, unless the Court shall think fit to dispense with such notice. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 31 Notice of application to be advertised if Court direct. 31. Notice of any application to the Court under this Act shall, if the Court shall so direct, but not otherwise, be inserted in such newspapers as the Court shall direct, and any person or body corporate, whether interested in the estate or not, may apply to the Court by motion for leave to be heard in opposition to or in support of any application which may be made to the Court under this Act; and the Court is hereby authorised to permit such person or corporation to appear and be heard in opposition to or support of any such application, on such terms as to costs or otherwise, and in such manner, as it shall think fit. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 32 No application to be granted where a similar application has been rejected by Parliament. 32. The Court shall not be at liberty to grant any application under this Act in any case where the applicant, or any party entitled, has previously applied to any House of Parliament for a private Act to effect the same or a similar object, and such application has been rejected on its merits, or reported against by the judges to whom the Bill may have been referred. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 33 Notice of the exercise of powers to be given as directed by Court. 33. The Court shall direct that some sufficient notice of any exercise of any of the powers conferred on it by this Act shall be placed on the settlement or on any copies thereof, or otherwise recorded in any way it may think proper, in all cases where it shall appear to the Court to be practicable and expedient for preventing fraud or mistake. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 34 Payment and application of moneys arising from sales or set aside out of rent, &c. reserved on mining leases. 34. All money to be received on any sale effected under the authority of this Act, or to be set aside out of the rent or payments reserved on any lease of earth, coal, stone, or minerals as aforesaid, may, if the Court shall think fit, be paid to any trustees of whom it shall approve, or otherwise the same, ... so far as relates to estates in Ireland, shall be paid into [the Supreme Court to the account of the applicant] in the matter of this Act; and such money shall be applied as the Court shall from time to time direct to some one or more of the following purposes, namely ... so far as relates to estates in Ireland the purchase or redemption of rentcharge in lieu of tithes, Crown rent, or quit rent. The discharge or redemption of any incumbrance affecting the hereditaments in respect of which such money was paid, or affecting any other hereditaments subject to the same uses or trusts; or The purchase of other hereditaments to be settled in the same manner as the hereditaments in respect of which the money was paid; or The payment to any person becoming absolutely entitled. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 35 Trustees may apply moneys in certain cases without application to Court. 35. The application of the money in manner aforesaid may, if the Court shall so direct, be made by the trustees (if any) without any application to the Court, or otherwise upon an order of the Court upon the petition of the person who would be entitled to the possession or the receipt of the rents and profits of the land if the money had been invested in the purchase of land. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 36 Interim investment. 36. Until the money can be applied as aforesaid, the same shall be invested as the Court shall direct in some or one of the investments in which cash under the control of the Court is for the time being authorised to be invested; and the interest and dividends of such investments shall be paid to the person who would have been entitled to the rents and profits of the land if the money had been invested in the purchase of land. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 37 Court may direct application of money in respect of leases or reversions as may appear just. 37. Where any purchase money paid into Court under the provisions of this Act shall have been paid in respect of any lease for a life or lives or years, or for a life or lives and years, or any estate in lands less than the whole fee simple thereof, or of any reversion dependent on any such lease or estate, it shall be lawful for the Court on the petition of any party interested in such money to order that the same shall be laid out, invested, accumulated, and paid in such manner as the said Court may consider will give to the parties interested in such money the same benefit therefrom as they might lawfully have had from the lease, estate, or reversion in respect of which such money shall have been paid, or as near thereto as may be. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 38 Court may exercise powers repeatedly, but may not exercise them if expressly negatived. 38. The Court shall be at liberty to exercise any of the powers conferred on it by this Act, whether the Court shall have already exercised any of the powers conferred by this Act in respect of the same property or not; but no such powers shall be exercised if an express declaration that they shall not be exercised is contained in the settlement: Provided always, that the circumstance of the settlement containing powers to effect similar purposes shall not preclude the Court from exercising any of the powers conferred by this Act, if it shall think that the powers contained in the settlement ought to be extended. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 39 Court not to authorise act which could not have been authorised by settlor. 39. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to empower the Court to authorise any lease sale or other act beyond the extent to which in the opinion of the Court the same might have been authorised in and by the settlement by the settlor or settlors. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 40 Acts of Court in professed pursuance of this Act. 40. After the completion of any lease or sale or other act under the authority of the Court, and purporting to be in pursuance of this Act, the same shall not be invalidated on the ground that the Court was not hereby empowered to authorise the same .... SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 41 Costs. 41. It shall be lawful for the Court, if it shall think fit, to order that all or any costs or expenses of all or any parties of and incident to any application under this Act shall be a charge on the hereditaments which are the subject of the application, or on any other hereditaments included in the same settlement and subject to the same limitations; and the Court may also direct that such costs and expenses shall be raised by sale or mortgage of a sufficient part of such hereditaments, or out of the rents or profits thereof, such costs and expenses to be taxed as the Court shall direct. S.42 rep. by 1978 c.23 s.122(2) sch.7 Pt.I. S.43 rep. by 1962 c.30 s.7(9) sch.1 Pt.IV SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 45 Application for lease or sale in Ireland may be made to Landed Estates Court. 45. It shall and may be lawful for any person who under the provisions of this Act may make an application to the Court of Chancery in Ireland for the lease or sale of a settled estate, instead of making such application to the said Court of Chancery in Ireland to apply to the Landed Estates Court, Ireland, for the purpose of having the lease or sale of such settled estate under the last-mentioned Court; and thereupon it shall be lawful for the said Landed Estates Court, Ireland, to exercise all the powers conferred upon the Court of Chancery in Ireland, in relation to leases or sales of such nature under the provisions of this Act, save that the Judge in the case of a sale shall himself execute the conveyance to the purchaser under such sale, and save that such conveyance shall have the like operation and effect, and confer such indefeasible title to the purchaser as if such sale had been made and such conveyance had been executed upon an application for the sale of an incumbered estate under the Landed Estates Court (Ireland) Act, 1858: Provided always, that the Landed Estates Court, Ireland, shall make such investigation of the title and circumstances of the said estates as shall appear expedient, and also in cases of sales as in other cases preliminary to sales conducted in the said Landed Estates Court, Ireland: Provided also that every decision and order in the course of such proceedings shall be subject to appeal to the [Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland] as in other cases under the said Act. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 46 Tenants for life, &c., may grant leases. 46. It shall be lawful for any person entitled to the possession or to the receipt of the rents and profits of any settled estates for an estate for any life, or for a term of years determinable with any life or lives, or for any greater estate, ..., unless the settlement shall contain an express declaration that it shall not be lawful for such person to make such demise; ..., without any application to the Court, to demise the same or any part thereof, except the principal mansion house and the demesnes thereof, and other lands usually occupied therewith, from time to time, for any term not exceeding ... thirty-five years so far as relates to estates in Ireland, to take effect in possession at or within one year next after the making thereof: Provided that every such demise be made by deed, and the best rent that can reasonably be obtained be thereby reserved, without any fine or other benefit in the nature of a fine, which rent shall be incident to the immediate reversion; and provided that such demise be not made without impeachment of waste, and do contain a covenant for payment of the rent, and such other usual and proper covenants as the lessor shall think fit, and also a condition of re-entry on non-payment of the rent for a period of twenty-eight days after it becomes due, or for some less period to be specified in that behalf; and provided a counterpart of every deed of lease be executed by the lessee. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 47 Against whom such leases shall be valid. 47. Every demise authorised by the last preceding section shall be valid against the person granting the same, and all other persons entitled to estates subsequent to the estate of such person under or by virtue of the same settlement if the estates be settled, .... SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 48 Evidence of execution of execution of counterpart lease by lessee. 48. The execution of any lease by the lessor or lessors shall be deemed sufficient evidence that a counterpart of such lease has been duly executed by the lessee as required by this Act. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 49 Provision as to infants, lunatics, &c. 49. All powers given by this Act, and all applications to the Court under this Act, and consents to and notifications respecting such applications, may be executed, made, or given by, and all notices under this Act may be given to guardians on behalf of infants, and by or to committees on behalf of lunatics, and by or to trustees or assignes of the property of bankrupts, debtors in liquidation, or insolvents: Provided nevertheless, that in the cases of infant or lunatic tenants-in-tail no application to the Court or consent to or notification respecting any application may be made or given by any guardian or committee without the special direction of the Court. Ss.50, 51 rep. by SLR 1976 SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 52 Married women. 52. ..., married women may make or consent to any applications, whether they be of full age or infants. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 53 No obligation to make or consent to application, &c. 53. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to create any obligation on any person to make or consent to any application to the Court or to exercise any power. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 54 Tenants for life, &c. to be deemed entitled notwithstanding incumbrances. 54. For the purposes of this Act, a person shall be deemed to be entitled to the possession or to the receipt of the rents and profits of estates, although his estate may be charged or incumbered either by himself or by the settlor, or otherwise howsoever, to any extent but the estates or interests of the parties entitled to any such charge or incumbrance shall not be affected by the acts of the person entitled to the possession or to the receipt of the rents and profits as aforesaid unless they shall concur therein. SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 55 Exception as to entails created by Act of Parliament. 55. Provided always, that nothing in this Act shall authorise any sale or lease beyond the term of twenty-one years of any settled estates in respect of which, under ... any .. Act of Parliament, the tenants-in-tail are restrained from barring or defeating their estates tail, or where the reversion is vested in the Crown. S.56 rep. by SLR (NI) 1954 SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 57 Application of Act. 57. This Act shall, except as herein-after provided, apply to all matters existing at the time of the passing of this Act, whether proceedings are actually pending or not, and any proceedings in any such matter may be taken under this Act as if the matter originated under this Act: Provided always, that the provisions in this Act contained respecting demises to be made without application to the Court shall extend only to settlements made after the first day of November one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six. S.58 rep. by SLR 1883 SETTLED ESTATES ACT 1877 - SECT 59 Saving. 59. Nothing in this Act shall interfere with the exercise of any powers to authorise or grant leases conferred by any Act of Parliament not expressly repealed by this Act. S.61 rep. by SLR 1894 Schedule rep. by SLR 1883