Wills, Probate & Succession
Wills, Probate & Succession
Planning for the future and protecting your loved ones requires careful estate planning and expert legal guidance. Our wills, probate, and succession practice helps individuals and families navigate the complex process of estate administration, ensuring that your wishes are honored and your beneficiaries are protected. We provide compassionate support during difficult times while delivering efficient legal services that minimize delays and disputes in estate matters.
Our comprehensive succession services include will drafting and review, estate planning advice, grant of probate applications, letters of administration, estate distribution, succession certificates, trust administration, and resolution of succession disputes. We handle matters under both the Law of Succession Act and customary law inheritance. With our meticulous attention to detail and understanding of Kenyan succession law, we ensure smooth transition of assets and preservation of family legacies across generations.
Preserving Legacies and Protecting Beneficiaries' Rights
Estate administration involves complex legal procedures, tax considerations, and often emotional family dynamics. Our advocates provide clear guidance through every step of the succession process, from initial estate valuation to final distribution. We work diligently to resolve disputes amicably while protecting the interests of rightful beneficiaries and ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Our Expertise
Our succession team combines legal proficiency with sensitivity, ensuring that estate matters are handled with professionalism, confidentiality, and respect for family circumstances.
- Will drafting and estate planning
- Grant of probate and letters of administration
- Estate distribution and asset transfer
- Succession certificates and confirmations
- Trust administration and management
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need a will?
A will ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes, allows you to appoint guardians for minor children, minimizes family disputes, and can reduce estate administration costs. Without a valid will, your estate is distributed according to intestacy laws which may not reflect your intentions.
How long does probate take in Kenya?
The probate process typically takes 6-18 months depending on estate complexity, whether objections are raised, completeness of documentation, and court schedules. Simple estates with valid wills can be processed faster, while contested estates or intestate successions may take longer.
What is the difference between probate and letters of administration?
Grant of probate is issued when the deceased left a valid will and confirms the executor's authority to administer the estate. Letters of administration are granted when there is no valid will (intestacy) and appoint an administrator to distribute the estate according to law.
Who can challenge a will?
Dependants who were not adequately provided for in the will can challenge it under the Law of Succession Act. Challenges can be based on lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, fraud, improper execution, or inadequate provision for dependants. Such objections must be filed within six months of grant confirmation.