An Overview of the General Workings of Ideal Probate Registries Vis-a-Vis the Comparative Analysis of Probate Registries in Other Common Jurisdictions

AN OVERVIEW OF THE GENERAL WORKINGS OF IDEAL PROBATE REGISTRIES VIS-A-VIS THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PROBATE REGISTRIES IN OTHER COMMON JURISDICTIONS BY IHENETU-GEOFFREY CHINEDU

1. INTRODUCTION A. B. C. D. E. WHAT IS PROBATE HISTORY OF PROBATE COURTS REASONS FOR A PROBATE REGISTRY OPENING OF A PROBATE CASE JURISDICTION

2. ROLES OF A PROBATE REGISTRY 3. OFFICERS OF THE PROBATE REGISTRY AND THEIR DUTIES A. PROBATE JUDGE B. PROBATE REFEREES C. EXECUTORS OR ADMINSTRATORS D. SURVEYOR E. GUARDIAN 4. PROBATE COURT PERSONNEL AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES COURT CLERK COURT INVESTIGATOR

5. MATTERS THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED BEFORE A PROBATE COURT 6. FUNCTIONS OF A PROBATE REGISTRY

7. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK OF PROBATE REGISTRIES IN SEVERAL COMMON LAW JURISDICTIONS A. COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES B. UNITED STATES C. AUSTRALIA 8. BASIC REFORMS/STANDARDS/RECOMMENDATIONS REQUIRED TO PROPERLY REVAMP THE PROBATE COURT SYSTEM IN NIGERIA 9. CONCLUSION

1. INTRODUCTION The Probate Registries are efficient channels of dispensing justice in matters of testamentary instruments such as wills or estates. The Probate Registries have daunting challenges that needs to be addressed expediently, ranging from administrative problems, incessant delays, perversion of justice et al. This paper expounds the general workings of ideal probate registries vis-a-vis a comparative analysis of probate registries within common law jurisdictions with their peculiarities. Also, special recommendations would be proffered in a bid to structural revamp the Probate Registries in Nigerian Courts. A. WHAT IS PROBATE? Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person by resolving all claims and distributing the deceased person's property under the valid will. A surrogate court decides the validity of a testator's will. Probate is the official sanction of the Court upon a testamentary instrument (e.g. Will) so as to authorise an executor to administer the... [continues]

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