Inheritance in Nigeria: Wills, Probate and What Happens to Your Assets

The legal frameworks

Which rules apply to a Nigerian family.

Statute

Wills legislation rooted in the English Wills Act, state wills laws such as the Wills Law of Lagos State, and the Administration of Estates laws of each state decide who inherits when there is a will or none.

Customary law

Many families, especially outside the big cities, follow the customary rules of their community. These differ by ethnic group, and courts have increasingly struck down rules that treat sons and daughters or widows unfairly.

Islamic law

For many Muslim families, particularly in the north, shares are prescribed by Sharia. Our free Faraid calculator shows how the classical shares work.

This is general information, not legal advice. Speak to a lawyer licensed in Nigeria about your own situation.

What your family goes through

The process, in order.

1
Death certificate
The first document every bank, registry and insurer will ask for.
2
Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
Applied for at the Probate Registry of the relevant State High Court. Probate is for estates with a will; Letters of Administration are for estates without one.
3
Institutions release assets
Banks usually freeze a deceased customer's account until they see the grant. Land transfers also need the proper consents and registration.

The biggest practical problem is not the law. It is that families often do not know which banks, wallets, pension funds, plots and businesses exist at all.

Where Remayn fits

The part the law does not solve: knowing what exists.

Remayn keeps a private, encrypted record of your accounts, property, policies, wallets and documents. If you stop responding for the time you choose, it tells the next of kin you named where to look. It does not replace a will or a lawyer. It makes sure your family can find what the lawyer needs.

See how it works Build your next of kin checklist

Guides for Nigeria

Inheritance in Nigeria: common questions.

What happens to my bank account if I die in Nigeria?

Banks generally freeze the account once they are told of the death. Your family will usually need a death certificate and either a Grant of Probate (if there is a will) or Letters of Administration (if there is not) before the money is released.

Do I need a will in Nigeria?

You are not forced to have one, but without a will the law of intestacy, customary law or Islamic law decides who inherits, and the process is usually slower and more likely to cause disputes. A simple will drawn up through a lawyer is the most effective protection.

What are Letters of Administration?

A court document that authorises a named person to deal with the estate of someone who died without a will. It is issued by the Probate Registry of the State High Court.

Can Remayn replace a will?

No. Remayn is not a law firm and does not replace a will. It keeps a private, encrypted record of what you own and tells your next of kin where to look, which is the part families most often get stuck on.

Other countries: Ghana, Kenya, South Africa.

What happens to your assets when you die in Nigeria.

Which rules apply to a Nigerian family.

Statute

Customary law

Islamic law

The process, in order.

Death certificate

Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration

Institutions release assets

The part the law does not solve: knowing what exists.

Read next.

What Happens to Your Assets When You Die in Nigeria?

How to Write a Will in Nigeria: A Step-by-Step Guide

How Much Does Letters of Administration Cost in Nigeria?

How to Get a Death Certificate in Nigeria

What Happens to Your Pension When You Die in Nigeria?

Power of Attorney in Nigeria: What It Does, and What It Doesn't Do After Death

Who Becomes Guardian of Your Children If You Die in Nigeria?

What Happens to a Business When the Owner Dies in Nigeria?

Inheritance in Nigeria: common questions.

What remains, lives on.