Navigating Estate Administration In Oyo State: Devolution, Distribution, And The Probate Process

1. Introduction

1.1 When a person dies, the question as to what happens to the assets left behind usually arises. This is because the death of an individual is not an instant termination of the legal rights and interests the person possessed in his assets, rather those interests pass on to the deceased's personal representatives.¹ This is the point at which the devolution² process becomes relevant. To avoid chaos, the law makes provisions that aid in determining what happens to the assets of a deceased person.

1.2 This article explores the devolution and distribution of a deceased's estate³ in Oyo State, as well as the procedural steps involved in obtaining a grant of probate and letters of administration.