Wills, Probate & Estate Administration

Putting your affairs in order, and seeing them through

A will is the difference between deciding what happens to what you have built and leaving that decision to a court, a registry and whatever relatives assert themselves most forcefully. We draft wills that are valid, clear and durable — properly executed and witnessed, deposited where they can be found, and specific enough that an executor is not left guessing.

When someone has died, we act for executors and families through the probate process: obtaining a grant of probate where there is a will, letters of administration where there is not, and then the practical work of collecting in assets, settling liabilities and distributing the estate. Where a will or an executor’s conduct is disputed, we advise and, if it comes to it, litigate.

Matters we take on

• Drafting, executing and safekeeping wills and codicils
• Applications for probate and letters of administration
• Administration of estates, from asset collection to final distribution
• Succession planning for family businesses and shareholdings
• Trusts, gifts and lifetime transfers
• Contested wills, executor disputes and claims against estates

What working with us looks like

1. 01

   An honest picture of the estate

   We establish what there is, who has a claim on it and which rules apply — statutory, customary or both — before advising on a plan.

2. 02

   Documents that hold up

   A will is only as good as its execution. We get the drafting, witnessing and deposit right, so it is not defeated on a technicality years later.

3. 03

   Steady hands through the registry

   Probate is procedural and slow. We deal with the registry, the paperwork and the deadlines, and keep the family informed rather than anxious.

Common questions

Q.What happens if someone dies without a will?

The estate is distributed under the intestacy rules that apply — statutory or customary, depending on the deceased’s circumstances and the state — and the family must apply for letters of administration before anything can be dealt with. It is slower, more expensive and far more prone to dispute than administering a will.

Q.How long does probate take in Nigeria?

Straightforward estates commonly take several months from application to grant, depending on the probate registry, how readily the assets and liabilities can be established, and whether anyone objects. A contested estate takes considerably longer, and we give you a realistic view at the outset.

Q.Can a will be challenged?

Yes. Wills are most often challenged on execution, on the testator’s capacity or on allegations of undue influence, and in some states customary law limits how freely certain property can be given away. Careful drafting is the best defence, which is precisely why it is worth doing properly.