Wealth Management, Trusteeship and Probate

Preserving wealth across generations requires structures that are both legally sound and practically administrable. FIN & LAW advises individuals, families and institutions on wealth management, trusteeship and probate matters in Tanzania - combining technical mastery of succession law with the sensitivity these matters deserve.

We draft wills, establish trusts and foundations, and design succession plans for family businesses that keep enterprises intact through generational transitions. Our advocates act as trustees and administer estates, and we regularly appear in probate proceedings - from uncontested grants of probate and letters of administration to complex disputes over the validity of wills and the distribution of estates.

For institutional clients, we advise on trust structures for pension schemes, collective investment vehicles and charitable endowments, and on trustees’ duties and liabilities under Tanzanian law.

What We Do

• Wills drafting and estate planning
• Establishment and administration of trusts and foundations
• Probate and letters of administration proceedings
• Estate administration and distribution
• Succession planning for family businesses
• Contentious probate and inheritance disputes
• Trustee services and advice on trustees’ duties and liabilities
• Charitable trusts and institutional trust structures

Typical Matters

• Drafting of wills, trusts and estate-planning structures
• Administration of estates and applications for grants of probate and letters of administration
• Establishment and administration of family and charitable trusts
• Succession planning and the intergenerational transfer of assets
• Advisory on trustee duties, powers and fiduciary obligations
• Resolution of contested estates and inheritance disputes

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I make a will?

A valid will lets you decide how your assets are distributed, appoint executors, and provide for dependants, which can reduce disputes and delays for your family. Without a will, an estate is distributed according to the applicable rules of intestacy, which may not reflect your wishes.

What is probate and when is it needed?

Probate is the legal process of proving a will and obtaining authority to administer a deceased person’s estate. It is generally needed before executors can lawfully deal with significant assets such as land, bank accounts, or shares.

What is a trust and how is it used?

A trust is an arrangement where a trustee holds and manages assets for the benefit of others. Trusts are commonly used for succession planning, protecting assets, or providing for minors and dependants over time.

How does estate administration work when there is no will?

Where a person dies without a valid will, the estate is administered under the applicable intestacy and succession rules, and a personal representative is appointed to distribute it. The process can be more complex, which is one reason planning ahead is valuable.