Online Procedure (Step By Step) For Letters Of Administration In Lagos State

By Bennybonny Eucharia

It is always a difficult and disappointing moment for beneficiaries and dependents of the deceased when they are asked to get Letters of Administration before they can claim the monies or assets the deceased left behind in the bank or with the Pension Fund Administrators.

Some may even want to sell off the property of the deceased in order to temporarily sustain themselves but only to find it difficult to get a serious buyer because they cannot pass a valid title to the buyer without the Letters of Administration or Grant of Probate as the case may be.

It can take years before they obtain the Letters of Administration and receive the said death benefits or monies in bank if they choose to do it themselves and not seek expert advice. It is even getting tougher now that this demonic COVID-19 has ushered in social distancing, restricted movements, restricted working hours (9am to 3pm), and long-waiting and standing hours at the Probate and other stakeholders involved in the whole process.

It is however, not an insurmountable challenge since you can engage expert services from the comfort of your homes and offices.

Before I tell you the Procedure, let me give you a checklist of all the documents, information and requirements you need to get this work done.

1. Application Letter addressed to the Probate Registrar (either in Ikeja or Lagos) and containing the following
– Full names and address of the deceased
– Date of death of the deceased
– Place of residence of the deceased shortly before his death
– Full names and addresses of the proposed administrators

2. The Application Letter shall be accompanied with the
– Death Certificate of the deceased
– Passport photo of the deceased
– Passport photos of all the proposed administrators
– ID Cards of all the proposed administrators
– Phone numbers of the administrators, beneficiaries and close relation of the deceased (which may be either father, mother, brother or sister)

3. Upon uploading all the above documents and information, you will download and print the following Forms, together with the Payment Invoice:
1. Application for A Grant of Letters of Administration (Without Will).
2. Oath for Administration (Without Will)
3. Administration Bond (Without Will)
4. Inventory
5. Particulars of Freehold/Leasehold Property Left by Deceased
6. Declarations as To Next-Of-Kin
7. Schedule of Debts Due by The Deceased

4. The Bank Certificate will be given to you after you have paid for the Form Fees.

5. Gather all the assets of the deceased (both movable and immovable), get the balance standing to the credit of the deceased stamped on the Bank Certificate and resubmit for assessment.

6. Pay all the Estate Fees.

7. Book for an interview at the Probate Registry to confirm that the information you provided the Court and the Probate is true.

8. Publication would be made in the Newspaper or the Gazette in order to allow the public or any interested person the opportunity to object and file a caveat to the Grant of Letters of Administration to the applicants.

9. If after 21 days no objection is raised, the file will go for Minute and Order at the Probate Judge’s office.

10. Then if every information in the file is okay and there are no complications attached to the file, then the Letters of Administration will be granted and issued to you within one month.

BENNYBONNY EUCHARIA (SCN084650) is a Lagos-Based Lawyer , with over 8 years’ experience and proficiency in Probate matters, Property Management, Estate Planning, Group Legal Protection and other Legal Services. 08066053162, [email protected]

Credit: https://thenigerialawyer.com