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The short answer
When a person dies without a will, a bank will release their money only to administrators appointed by letters of administration from the state High Court's Probate Registry. In Lagos the process, as described by practitioners in May 2024, involves at least two administrators, a certificate endorsed by each bank holding funds, two sureties, an interview and a 21-day newspaper publication for objections before the letters issue.
Why the bank needs letters of administration
A bank cannot hand money to whichever relative arrives first. Without a will, no one has authority over the estate until a court gives it. Letters of administration are that authority: they name the administrators who may collect the assets, pay debts and distribute the rest according to the law. Daily Trust's December 2023 explainer confirms the practice: before releasing funds, banks need probate where there is a will, or letters of administration where there is not.
Once the bank is told of the death it stops withdrawals, which TEMPLARS' November 2025 review lists among the lawful grounds for restricting an account. If you are not sure whether a will exists, check with the family lawyer and the Probate Registry before applying; see claiming a relative's account where there is a will.
Who can apply
A May 2024 practitioner guide by Tope Adebayo LP, published on Mondaq, sets out the order of priority used in Lagos for who may apply:
- Surviving spouse
- Children
- Parents
- Full brothers and sisters
- Half brothers and sisters
- Grandparents
- Uncles and aunts
- The Administrator-General
- Creditors
The guide says at least two administrators are needed. Families usually agree among themselves who will act; disagreements can delay everything, because a relative can file an objection (a caveat) during the publication period.
The process step by step (Lagos)
Other states follow a similar pattern but forms, fees and timelines differ. Check with the Probate Registry of the state where the deceased lived.
- Collect the death certificate.
- List the assets. Bank accounts, shares, property and other assets the deceased held.
- Get a certificate from each bank. The Mondaq guide says the application needs a bank certificate endorsed by each bank holding the deceased's funds. Ask the bank's deceased estate desk; they confirm the balance at the date of death on the registry's form or their own letterhead.
- Complete the application. The guide describes an online form that is printed, signed and filed with a covering letter and the fees.
- Pay the estate fees. Lagos charges estate fees as a percentage of the estate's value; the guide does not state the percentage, so ask the registry for the current schedule.
- Provide two sureties with an affidavit of means, who stand behind the administrators.
- Attend the interview at the registry.
- Wait for the newspaper publication. The application is published for 21 days so anyone with an objection can come forward.
- Letters issue after the registrar and judge review the file.
The guide does not give an overall timeline, and nor will we. Incomplete bank certificates and family disputes are the usual causes of delay.
Bank forms and release
With letters of administration in hand, the administrators go back to each bank. Expect to provide:
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Certified true copy of the letters of administration | From the Probate Registry |
| Death certificate | Original or certified copy |
| IDs and passport photos of all administrators | All named administrators usually sign |
| Bank's own release or indemnity form | Each bank has its own format |
| Letter of instruction | Signed by all administrators, naming an estate account to receive the funds |
Union Bank's complaints page notes that third parties dealing with someone else's account need written authority, giving estate trustees as an example. Open an estate account in the administrators' names so the money is kept separate from anyone's personal funds.
Worked example
Example only: Mrs Bello dies without a will, leaving ₦2,600,000 at one bank and ₦900,000 at another, a total of ₦3,500,000. Her husband and eldest daughter apply as administrators. Each bank endorses a certificate of balance, the application is filed, published for 21 days with no objection, and letters issue. The administrators present them to both banks, which pay ₦3,500,000 into the estate account. Debts and estate costs are paid first, and the balance is shared according to the law that applies to her estate.
If the bank has failed or the account is dormant
For a closed bank, the NDIC claims page includes a category for deceased depositors. For an old account, balances inactive for 10 years or more go to the CBN under its July 2024 guidelines, as GTBank explains, and can be reclaimed with proof of entitlement; see dormant account reactivation.
Where Pryme fits
Administrators handling a Pryme account can write through the contact page. For your own planning, a written list of accounts, and a will, spares your family the process above. Our guide to account restrictions also explains the other codes they may meet.
Questions people ask
How do I get money from a deceased account with no will?
Apply to the Probate Registry of the state High Court for letters of administration. Once issued, the administrators present them to the bank with the death certificate, their IDs and a letter of instruction.
Who can apply for letters of administration in Nigeria?
In Lagos the priority runs from the surviving spouse to children, parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles and aunts, then the Administrator-General and creditors. At least two administrators are needed.
How much are probate fees in Lagos?
Lagos charges estate fees as a percentage of the estate's value. The rate is not in the practitioner guide we used, so ask the Lagos Probate Registry for the current schedule.
Why is the bank asking for a bank certificate?
The Probate Registry needs each bank holding the deceased's money to confirm the balance. The bank endorses a certificate that goes into the letters of administration application.
Sources
- Mondaq / Tope Adebayo LP: Issuance of letters of administration in Nigeria (29 May 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- Daily Trust: Why next of kin cannot access a deceased's inheritance (10 Dec 2023) · accessed Oct 2026
- TEMPLARS ThoughtLab: Freezing Bank Accounts in Nigeria (19 Nov 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Union Bank: How can we help you? (complaints and contacts) · accessed Oct 2026
- GTBank: Guidelines for managing dormant accounts, unclaimed balances and other financial assets · accessed Oct 2026
- NDIC: Your claims · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.