Wills, trusts & probate

A clear estate plan is one of the most considerate things a person can leave behind. It removes uncertainty, reduces the burden on those you love and ensures your wishes are respected. We help individuals and families plan thoughtfully, draft documents that hold up, and administer estates with the diligence and sensitivity the moment requires.

Where assets or beneficiaries sit in more than one country, succession can become complex quickly. Our presence across Nigeria, the UK and Canada lets us coordinate estate planning and administration so that a single, coherent plan works across each jurisdiction it touches.

The law where you are

How succession differs across our jurisdictions.

Nigeria. Wills are governed by the Wills Act and the Wills Laws of the various states, which set out how a valid will is made. After a death, executors apply to the probate registry for probate, or, where there is no will, the family applies for letters of administration. Customary succession can also apply in certain circumstances, which makes a properly drafted will all the more important.

United Kingdom. A will must meet the formalities of the Wills Act 1837 to be valid. Where there is no valid will, the intestacy rules decide who inherits. Executors obtain a grant of probate before they can deal with the estate, and inheritance tax planning is often a central part of advice.

Canada. In Manitoba, wills are governed by The Wills Act, and estates are administered through the Court of King’s Bench. Executors are usually required to obtain probate, and estates may be subject to administration charges, so early planning helps keep matters straightforward for those left to administer them.