When Section 27 Requires Both Gazette and Local Newspaper Notices
“The Gazette” and “a local newspaper” are not interchangeable publication channels. Whether both are required depends on the statute and the facts. The clearest everyday example is a deceased-estate notice under section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925.
Editorially reviewed 14 July 2026. Primary sources: section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925 and HMRC's summary of the publication rule. This article deliberately does not generalise the Section 27 rule to unrelated notice types.
The Section 27 publication rule
A personal representative or trustee using section 27 must publish the notice in the London Gazette. If the estate includes land, the notice must also appear in a newspaper circulating in the locality of that land.
That creates three practical scenarios:
- No land in the estate: section 27 requires the London Gazette notice, but does not add the local-newspaper limb.
- Land in one locality: publish in the London Gazette and in a newspaper circulating in that locality.
- Land in several localities: identify local newspaper coverage for each area rather than assuming one title or the London Gazette covers every local requirement.
The notice must specify a claims deadline at least two months after the advertisement. Where required notices appear on different dates, calculate the safe distribution timetable from the last publication and take estate-specific advice before distributing.
Do not apply this rule to HGV or premises adverts
An HGV operator licence advert is a local-newspaper requirement under the goods vehicle licensing process. The current GOV.UK application guidance does not tell an HGV applicant to buy a London Gazette notice. See the official HGV advertising requirements.
A new or full-variation premises licence application in England and Wales uses a local newspaper (or the statutory local alternative where there is no newspaper) plus a site notice. It is not made into a London Gazette requirement merely by being a statutory advert. See the Home Office's Licensing Act statutory guidance.
Other procedures can have their own Gazette, newspaper, service and display requirements. Check the enabling legislation and procedure regulations for the particular order rather than extrapolating from Section 27.
Place the required Section 27 notices
Read the complete Section 27 guide, then start a Section 27 notice to review the proposed publications, total and wording before placement.
