Will guide · Nigeria
How to write a valid will in Nigeria — and make sure your family can find it.
The rules in plain English: age, witnesses, who can't inherit and where to lodge it. Then let OpenWill make sure the right people know it exists.
Free, always
What's free
- Write and edit your will online
- List your assets and name your people
- Download and print your will PDF
- Invite witnesses and check their ID
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What Live Will adds
- Secure vault for your signed copy
- Proof-of-life check-ins
- Release to the people you name, confirmed by two executors
- Invite beneficiaries to see what's theirs
Five steps to a valid will in Nigeria
- 01
Check you can make a will
You must be of sound mind and old enough: 18 under the Lagos State Wills Law, or 21 in states still under the Wills Act.
- 02
Write it down clearly
List your property, who gets what, and name at least one executor. Land often follows special rules, so describe it precisely.
- 03
Sign with two witnesses together
Sign in ink with both witnesses present at the same time. They then sign while you watch.
- 04
Pick witnesses who don't inherit
Witnesses and their spouses shouldn't benefit under the will, or their gift may fail.
- 05
Lodge it and tell your executors
You can lodge the original at a State High Court probate registry. Make sure your executors know.
Where OpenWill fits
OpenWill doesn't replace the probate registry or a Nigerian lawyer. It makes sure your executors know the will exists and where it's lodged, keeps every version timestamped, and releases it only to the people you name. For land, family property or customary law questions, ask a local lawyer to review your will.
Wills in Nigeria: questions
What age can I make a will in Nigeria?
18 under the Lagos State Wills Law. In states that still follow the old Wills Act, the minimum age is 21. Check the law of the state where you live.
How many witnesses do I need?
Two. Both must be present together when you sign, and then sign in your presence.
Can a witness inherit under my will?
They shouldn't. A gift to a witness, or to a witness's husband or wife, can fail. Choose witnesses who get nothing under the will.
Where should I keep my will in Nigeria?
You can lodge it at the probate registry of a State High Court for safekeeping. Tell your executors that you have done so and where.
Does OpenWill replace the probate registry?
No. OpenWill makes sure your executors know your will exists and where it's lodged, keeps a timestamped copy, and releases it only to the people you name.
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