PROBATE & ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
Settling a loved one’s estate, with care and certainty.
When someone dies, their bank accounts, pension, property and shares cannot be released until the court grants authority to deal with them. Ren Attorneys obtains that grant and administers the estate for you, so your family can focus on what matters.
AT A GLANCE · FCT
Two kinds of grant
Probate where there is a valid will naming executors; Letters of Administration where there is not.
2 next of kin · 2 sureties
Required to appear in person at the Probate Registry for Letters of Administration.
Estate fee
Charged on the assessed value of the estate at the FCT High Court, excluding pension funds.
Two registries
The FCT High Court, or the FCT Customary Court of Appeal for estates governed by customary law.
WHAT GRANT DO YOU NEED?
A grant from the Probate Registry is the legal authority that banks, pension administrators, registrars, land registries and others ask to see before they release or transfer anything.
It depends on whether there is a will
There is a will
Grant of Probate
Issued to the executors named in a valid will. It confirms the will and authorises the executors to gather the assets and distribute them as the will directs.
There is no will
Letters of Administration
Issued to administrators, usually close family, when someone dies without a will, or when a will names no executor who can act. The estate then passes under the applicable law of succession.
A grant from abroad
Resealing & supplementary grants
Recognition of a grant issued in another country for assets in Nigeria, and supplementary grants for assets discovered after the original grant.
DOCUMENT CHECKLIST
What you will need for Letters of Administration
Based on the FCT High Court Probate Registry’s published requirements. Originals must be presented for sighting even where photocopies are filed. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything yet; we help you trace and obtain what is missing.
Death certificate, original and photocopy
Letter of introduction from the deceased’s last employer
At least two next of kin, attending in person
Two sureties, attending in person
Valid means of identification for everyone attending
Pension Fund Administrator’s name and the deceased’s RSA PIN
Details of bank accounts held by the deceased
Title documents for land or buildings, where applicable
Share certificates or CSCS statements, where applicable
For a Grant of Probate, the original will and the executors’ identification are also required.
HOW IT WORKS
From first meeting to final distribution
01
Consultation & estate review
We confirm whether there is a will, which registry applies, who is entitled to apply, and what the estate is likely to contain.
04
Publication & assessment
The application is published so anyone with an objection can come forward, and the Registry assesses the estate fee payable.
We handle the Registry, the paperwork and the institutions, and keep the family informed at every stage.
02
Documents & asset schedule
We gather the documents and prepare an inventory of the assets and debts, tracing accounts, pensions and investments where needed.
05
Issue of the grant
Once fees are paid and no caveat stands in the way, the Registry issues the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration.
03
Filing at the Probate Registry
We file the application and accompany the next of kin and sureties to the Registry for their interview and sworn declarations.
06
Administering the estate
We collect the assets, settle debts, transfer property and shares, and distribute to the beneficiaries, with a full account to the family.
OUR PROBATE & ESTATE SERVICES
Complete support, before and after a death
Probate & Letters of Administration
Applications at the FCT High Court and Customary Court of Appeal, handled from start to issue.
Estate disputes & caveats
Lodging or defending caveats, challenges to wills, and disputes between beneficiaries or administrators.
Estate administration
Releasing bank balances and pension benefits, transferring land and shares, paying debts and distributing to beneficiaries.
Families abroad
Acting for beneficiaries in the diaspora, resealing foreign grants and managing Nigerian assets without repeated trips home.
Wills & estate planning
Drafting wills that stand up to scrutiny, and lodging them safely with the Probate Registry.
Asset tracing
Finding accounts, pensions, insurance policies and investments the family may not know about.
WHY REN ATTORNEYS
Steady hands at a difficult time
Probate is detailed work, and small errors at the Registry cause long delays. We get it right the first time, and we are sensitive to the family relationships involved.
Registry experience in Abuja
We know what the Probate Registry expects, so applications are complete when filed.
Fair to every beneficiary
Clear communication and a full account keep families informed and reduce the risk of disputes.
Clear, agreed fees
Our fees and the court’s charges are set out in writing before we begin.
Regular progress updates
You always know where the application stands and what happens next.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions families ask us
Can the bank release my relative’s money without a grant?
Generally no. Banks, pension administrators and share registrars will usually only release assets to a personal representative holding a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration.
How long does it take to get Letters of Administration?
It varies with the size of the estate, how quickly documents are gathered and whether anyone objects. A straightforward, well-prepared application moves much faster than a disputed one.
Who can apply?
Executors named in the will apply for probate. Without a will, close family members, usually the spouse or adult children, apply for Letters of Administration.
What if a family member disagrees?
A person with an interest can lodge a caveat to stop a grant being issued until the dispute is resolved. We act both for those lodging caveats and for applicants seeking to have them removed.
I live abroad. Do I need to travel to Nigeria?
Not always. We can act on your behalf through a power of attorney and coordinate the family members who need to attend the Registry in person.
Get in Touch
Whether you have a question, an idea, or just want to say hello, feel free to reach out—we’re here to help.