ADMINISTRATOR-GENERAL’S Department (AGD) will this year launch a national public education campaign on estate management.

The announcement was made on Wednesday during a meeting at the Ministry of Justice’s head office where AGD’s strategic plan was signed and presented to Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck.

In endorsing the initiative Chuck said all Jamaican adults should know about the services of AGD, especially making a will. He emphasised his commitment to playing his part to increase awareness of the services of the department.

“When a person makes a will it leaves no doubt as to how the assets can be disposed of. We have a problem in Jamaica with ‘dead lef’ [and] it has created many [challenges]. I will continue to assist in whatever way I can with promoting these services, because no longer should dead lef be a problem,” said.

CEO/Administrator-General Stacie-Ann Carty shared that the campaign will seek to address the current knowledge gap among many Jamaicans about AGD.

“There is a gap in the population on what we do, and how we can help them, and the services that we provide at the department, for access to justice. We want to ensure that the public knows what we do and how the Government can assist them,” said Carty.

AGD administers the estates of persons who die intestate – that is without a will – and protects the interests of minors, beneficiaries and creditors as mandated by law.

It has a portfolio of more than 3,800 properties islandwide, with an estimated value of $50 billion.

Additionally, the department currently manages cash assets of over $3 billion designated for the beneficiaries of the deceased estates.