Family wealth
Give Kenyan assets a clear route to the right people.
Wills, trusts, probate and estate administration designed to reduce uncertainty, delay and family conflict.
End-to-end encrypted document intake For death certificates, wills and title documents, we send you a private link. Your documents are encrypted on your phone before they are sent, and only our advocates can open them.
Triage · about 2 minutes
Estate protection check
Three practical questions. The result is indicative guidance, not legal advice, and nothing is submitted.
- Your wishes are not documentedYou own assets or support family members but do not yet have a Kenyan will or coordinated estate plan.
- An estate cannot moveA family needs authority to collect, protect and distribute the deceased person’s assets.
- The family disagreesBeneficiaries, administrators or dependants dispute the estate, the documents or the proposed distribution.
Your indicative route
Scope & deliverables
What we take responsibility for.
Starting points, not packages forced onto every matter. The final scope is confirmed in writing.
Standard Kenyan will
- Planning questionnaire
- Draft will and review
- Execution guidance
TimingConfirmed once the family and asset structure is understood
Family trust establishment
- Planning assessment
- Trust structure and documents
- Implementation guidance
TimingDepends on assets, trustees, beneficiaries and tax input required
Probate and administration
- Estate and document review
- Court and administrator route
- Distribution support within agreed scope
TimingCourt, registry and family factors affect completion
Estate structures
Three instruments, each with a different job.
Planning is a considerate act for the people who come after. The right structure depends on the family and the assets.
| Will | Family trust | Grant of representation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Records who receives what, and who administers the estate. | Trustees hold assets for named beneficiaries under a deed. | The court’s authority to collect and distribute a deceased person’s estate. |
| When it works | On death. | From the date the trust is set up. | After death, once the grant issues. |
| Court involvement | Probate is still needed. | Trust assets can pass outside probate. | A petition under the Law of Succession Act. |
| Well suited to | Most people with property or dependants. | Family businesses, minors, land held for generations. | Families administering an estate, with or without a will. |
Process timeline
Know what happens on both sides.
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Map the people and assets
YouShare the family structure, Kenyan assets and existing documents.
HTLAWe identify ownership, dependency, authority and succession gaps.
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Choose the legal route
YouConfirm your priorities and the decisions that matter most.
HTLAWe explain the available will, trust, probate or administration route and its trade-offs.
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Put authority in place
YouReview and execute the agreed documents correctly.
HTLAWe prepare, file or coordinate the work and keep the next steps visible.
Fee range
Fees set within the Advocates Remuneration Order.
Professional fees exclude VAT and official or third-party disbursements unless the written quote says otherwise.
| Instruction | Fee guidance | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Kenyan will | Written fee after the family and asset structure is reviewed | Confirmed once the family and asset structure is understood |
| Family trust establishment | Quoted after an initial planning assessment | Depends on assets, trustees, beneficiaries and tax input required |
| Probate and administration | Quoted according to estate value and complexity | Court, registry and family factors affect completion |
Documents are shared through a private, encrypted intake link, never by email.
For Kenyans abroad
Managing Kenyan assets from abroad?
The Diaspora Desk supports remote estate planning, probate coordination and structures involving international beneficiaries.
Before you instruct
Practical questions.
Clear answers help you decide whether to share documents, book advice or keep researching.
Information on this page is general guidance and does not create an advocate–client relationship. Formal advice begins after conflict checks and written engagement.
Should I start with a will or a trust?
That depends on your assets, family needs, control preferences, cost and intended timeline. A planning assessment should come before selecting the structure.
Can succession work be managed remotely?
Much of the instruction and document review can be remote. Court, identity, witnessing or original-document requirements may still require specific local steps.
What if the deceased left no will?
The estate may still be administered under Kenyan succession law. The correct petition and distribution route depends on the family and asset record.
Can you help where beneficiaries disagree?
Yes. The first step is an early assessment of the documents, parties, estate status and realistic resolution options.