First applications to be registered for PLR may not be made by the estate of a deceased author. However, if the deceased had registered books for PLR during their lifetime, under certain circumstances, additional books may be registered by the executor (or the new owner if the PLR rights have been assigned).

Once you have been formally registered as an assignee you will receive a printout listing all the books in which you hold PLR interests (refer to Assigning PLR for further details). If a book is missing from the list, or if a new title or edition of a book has been published since the original registered owner’s death, it may be eligible for posthumous registration.

Posthumous applications to register new titles can only be accepted if the book was published within one year before, or up to ten years after the date of the original registered owner’s death.

New editions of existing registered titles can be added at any time during the life of PLR (up to seventy years after the date of the original registered owner’s death)

Submitting Your Posthumous Application

You must register separately each book and each new edition where it has a different ISBN. However, once an ISBN has been registered you need not apply for it again. Applications to register for PLR must be made on an official Posthumous Application form.

If this is your first application for Posthumous Registration, the Personal Representative and the New Owner must jointly complete the appropriate sections of the First Application for Posthumous Registration form.  The Certificate section of the form must be completed by an independent witness who knew the original registered owner for at least two years before their death

Before submitting your application, please check that:

• You have downloaded the correct form – ie if this is your first application to register books posthumously, you have downloaded the First Application for Posthumous Registration form. If this is not your first posthumous application, you should download the Subsequent Application for Posthumous Registration form. (Alternatively, you may contact us to request a form and guide to be posted to you.)  We regret that the online service is not available for applicants wishing to register posthumously.
• The books are eligible under the rules for posthumous registration, and shares have been allocated correctly.  Refer to the Assignments and Posthumous Registration Information Leaflet for further details.
• The original registered owner met the residence requirements at the time of their death (ie they were resident in the EEA).

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