⚠️ This guide was researched and updated in May 2026. Laws and regulations change frequently. For specific legal advice regarding your jurisdiction, please consult with local legal counsel.
The cost of a will in Nigeria runs from nothing for a form you complete yourself to a substantial fee for a lawyer drafting a will for a larger estate. This guide sets out the typical range for each route and what tends to push the price up.
There is no single price. What you pay depends mostly on the route you choose, your state and how involved your estate is. Keeping the will with a trust company or the Probate Registry may be charged separately from the drafting fee.
Price does not decide validity. Each state sets its own wills law, such as the Wills Law of Lagos State, and they generally require a written will, signed and witnessed. See do I need a lawyer to write a will for what those rules involve.
Cost tends to follow complexity and the amount of tailored advice, not the length of the document.
A modest estate sits at the lower end; several properties, a business, shares or assets abroad push the price up.
Blended families, customary law questions or a family where disputes are likely usually call for more careful drafting, which tends to cost more.
Trust companies often offer fixed-price packages for simpler estates, while a lawyer’s fee usually rises with seniority, location and the advice involved.
Safe custody of the original will, deposit at the Probate Registry and VAT may be charged on top of the drafting fee, so compare what each quote includes.
The table below sets out typical Nigerian market ranges for each route, what each usually includes and where the figures come from. They are an overview for information only; always check a provider’s current price before deciding.
Typical Nigerian market ranges for informational purposes only. Each state sets its own wills law, and depositing a will at the Probate Registry or keeping it with a trust company may carry its own fee. Prices vary by state, provider and estate complexity, and may change over time. Always check the source and consult a professional before deciding.
NGN 0
A sample will form you complete yourself. No review of your circumstances, and a will not signed and witnessed as your state law requires may be invalid.
Source: stanbicibtctrustees.com (opens in a new tab) · as of 27 Sept 2026
NGN 60,000
A trust company prepares a simple will covering basic assets such as a pension account, cash and one property. Custody of the will may be charged separately.
Source: afrinvest.com (opens in a new tab) · as of 27 Sept 2026
NGN 50,000 to NGN 500,000
A lawyer drafts the will for your own situation. The fee rises with the size and complexity of the estate, and VAT may be charged on top.
Source: trustedadvisorslaw.com (opens in a new tab) · as of 27 Sept 2026
It depends on the route. A will form can be free, a trust company may offer a fixed price for a simple will, and a lawyer’s fee rises with the complexity of the estate. The dated ranges and their sources are in the table above; always check a current price.
Generally not. Depositing a will is usually optional, but it keeps the original safe and easy to find. Any fee for it is charged separately from the drafting fee.
Sometimes, for a simple estate. Compare what each package covers, whether custody is charged, and whether the provider expects to be named as executor.
There can be. Custody may be charged periodically, and you may pay again to revise a will after a marriage, a new child or a change in your assets.
Whichever route suits you, a valid, up-to-date will is what decides who inherits. Start yours with structured prompts, or find a legal professional for advice on your own position.
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