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The short answer
When a parent dies without a will, Nigerian banks, pension administrators and land registries release assets only to administrators appointed by the probate registry of the High Court in the state concerned. In Lagos, a practitioner's guide describes an application by at least two administrators, a certificate from each bank, estate fees based on the estate's value, two sureties, an interview and a newspaper publication allowing 21 days for objections. From Ireland, you can take part as an administrator or support a relative who applies, signing documents before an Irish notary.
Losing a parent while living in Ireland is hard enough without a legal process in another country. But if your mother or father left money, a pension or land in Nigeria and no will, nothing moves until someone holds letters of administration. This article sets out the Nigerian process, using Lagos as the example, and what children in Ireland can do without moving home for months.
Why next of kin is not enough
Daily Trust's explainer (10 December 2023) states the position Nigerian banks take: a next of kin named on an account is not automatically entitled to the deceased's money, and the estate needs probate (where there is a will) or letters of administration (where there is not) before funds are released. PenCom's 2023 FAQ says a deceased member's retirement savings balance is paid to the executors of the will or to the administrator appointed by the Probate Registry. Land titles and shares follow the same rule.
Who can apply
A practitioner's guide on Mondaq (Tope Adebayo LP, 29 May 2024) sets out the order of priority for administrators where there is no will in Lagos:
- the surviving spouse;
- children;
- parents;
- full brothers and sisters, then half brothers and sisters;
- grandparents, then uncles and aunts;
- the Administrator-General, then creditors.
The guide says at least two administrators are named. Living in Ireland does not, on the guide we read, stop a child from being one, but an administrator must deal with banks and the registry, so many families pair a sibling or relative in Nigeria with one abroad.
The Lagos process
The same guide describes these stages at the Lagos State probate registry:
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Application | Online form, printed and signed, with an application letter and the fees |
| Estate details | Death certificate and the deceased's bank accounts, shares and property |
| Bank certificates | A certificate from each bank holding the deceased's money, endorsed by that bank |
| Estate fees | A percentage of the estate's value, assessed by the registry |
| Sureties | Two sureties, each with an affidavit of means |
| Interview | Proposed administrators attend an interview |
| Publication | Newspaper publication; 21 days allowed for caveats (objections) |
| Grant | Issued after review by the registrar and judge |
The guide gives no fee percentage and no overall timetable, and we do not invent one. Other states run their own registries with their own forms, so check the registry for the state where the assets are.
What you can do from Ireland
- Agree roles early. Decide within the family who the two administrators will be. A dispute at this stage usually leads to a caveat after publication and months of delay.
- Sign documents in Ireland. Consents, affidavits or a power of attorney for a relative in Nigeria can be signed before a notary in Ireland and authenticated for Nigerian use; see signing a Nigerian power of attorney in Ireland and legalising an Irish document for Nigeria.
- Gather the asset list. Bank names and account numbers, the PFA holding the pension, share certificates and land documents. Each bank will need to issue its own certificate.
- Fund the costs. Estate fees, lawyer's fees and newspaper publication are paid before the grant. Decide who pays and how it is repaid from the estate.
- Plan the interview. Ask the lawyer whether an administrator abroad must attend the registry interview in person or whether a remote or later attendance is accepted.
After the grant
With letters of administration, the administrators present them to each bank, the PFA and share registrars, and apply to change title at the land registry. Distribution then follows the law that governs the estate, which for many Nigerian families includes customary rules, and a lawyer should advise on it. Money or property you inherit may have Irish tax consequences; see inheriting a house in Nigeria and Irish capital acquisitions tax.
What to check first
- Confirm there is no valid will. If there is one, the route is probate, not administration.
- Find out the state where each asset sits.
- Get the Nigerian death certificate or medical certificate of death.
- Instruct a lawyer in that state and agree fees in writing.
- Agree the two administrators and the sureties.
Where Pryme fits
Siblings in Ireland, the UK and Nigeria often split the costs. From a Pryme Personal account opened in Ireland, each can send naira to the lawyer's account with the rate and fee shown before approving, and keep verifiable receipts through VerifyDoc.ai so every contribution is on record. The Nigeria library's bank claims guide covers the bank side once the grant is issued.
Questions people ask
Can I apply for letters of administration in Nigeria while living in Ireland?
You can be one of the administrators; a Lagos guide says at least two are named. Many families pair one relative in Nigeria with one abroad.
How long is the objection period after publication?
The Lagos guide we cite describes 21 days for caveats after the newspaper publication.
Can the next of kin collect a dead parent's money from a Nigerian bank?
Not on that basis alone. Banks release funds on probate or letters of administration.
How much are probate fees in Lagos?
Estate fees are a percentage of the estate's value assessed by the registry; the guide we read does not state the percentage.
Sources
- Mondaq (Tope Adebayo LP): Issuance of letters of administration in Nigeria, a practical approach (29 May 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- Daily Trust: Why next of kin cannot access a deceased's inheritance (10 Dec 2023) · accessed Oct 2026
- PenCom: Frequently asked questions, 2023 edition · 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.