JOURNALS

ABSTRACT

Human affairs are never predicable, at least in relation to the payment of the compulsory debt that we owe our maker, to leave this world one day, through death. It is an inevitable appointment that everyone must keep, but the issue is always the time of that appointment, which is known to God Himself alone. Because death could come unexpectedly, the law has made provisions for the mode of distribution of the estate of a person who departs unexpectedly without making adequate provisions for the sharing of his or her assets amongst the survivors. The rancour’s that normally attend this matter have made it imperative to consider it as a topic for discussion. Ideally, the rational thing is for everyone to make plans for sharing of his assets in a Will, wherein the mode of distribution of the estate of the deceased is well stated to avoid unnecessary disputes. Even at that, experience has shown that notwithstanding the best of intentions by a testator, people still find reasons to war amongst themselves, so long as money is involved. So, the question is what can be done to prevent the kind of disputes that attend the distribution of the estate of a deceased person? This paper will critically assess the issues and challenges that abound therein as to the administration of estates and probates.