Quick Answer
Dying without a valid Will in Ghana means your estate is distributed strictly by law under PNDCLaw 111. This law protects the surviving spouse and children, ensuring they receive the largest portions of the property rather than the extended family.
Key Takeaways
- PNDCLaw 111 prevents the extended family from evicting or depriving widows and biological children.
- You cannot control or distribute the property legally without first getting L/A from the court; doing so is a criminal offense (Intermeddling).
- The surviving spouse and children get these absolutely before any percentage splitting occurs.
- The remaining assets (the residue) are split strictly based on who survives the deceased.
When Someone Dies Without a Will, What Happens?
In Ghana, when a person dies without a Will, their estate is shared in accordance with PNDCLaw 111. PNDCLaw 111 is a short name for the Intestate Succession Law of 1985. The law directly addresses inheritance without a Will. However, the procedures and processes for invoking its benefits are found in other rules or laws. We may mention some factors in this article that may not necessarily be in the PNDCLaw 111 but will be found in other laws that are complementary to it.
You can purchase a copy of the PNDCLaw 111 here. You may also access a free PDF here.
Can We Share the Property Without Going to Court First?
No. It is a criminal offence to handle or deal with the property of a deceased person without going to Court first for Letters of Administration. A beneficiary of an intestate can only lawfully obtain the inheritance after the Administration process has been concluded. Only a lawfully appointed Administrator has the right to deal with the estate of a deceased intestate.
Who Can Inherit?
The spouse, children and parents of the deceased are granted the right to inherit the intestate under the law. The law also gives a small portion of the estate to the extended family under Customary Law.
Who Can Inherit?
Surviving Spouse
The legally married wife or husband of the deceased.
Surviving Child
The biological and adopted children of the deceased.
Surviving Parent
The biological or adoptive parents of the deceased.
Customary Law
The extended family of the deceased.
The People Who Can Inherit
The Law recognizes five (5) categories of persons who can inherit the property of the deceased when there is no will. They are,
Surviving Spouse: Who Counts as a Lawful Husband or Wife?
The PNDCLaw 111 will recognize only the legally married wife or husband of the deceased as a Surviving Spouse. Divorcees, Girlfriends, Concubines, Side Chicks, Boy Toys etc., are all excluded.
Surviving Child: Which Children are Legally Entitled to Inherit?
The Law will recognize all the biological children of the deceased as Surviving Children. The Law will also recognize all the legally adopted children of the deceased as Surviving Children. Nephews, Nieces, Cousins etc. are all excluded unless the deceased adopted them during his lifetime.
Surviving Parent: The parents of the Intestate
The biological parents of the deceased person are the Surviving Parents. However, the Law will acknowledge the legal adoptive Parents of the deceased as Surviving Parents.
Customary Law: What about the Extended Family?
The Law also grants a portion of the estate to be distributed in accordance with Customary Law. Customary Law refers to the customs and traditions of the ethnic tribe the deceased person belonged to. In practice, this portion is usually given to the extended family of the deceased, i.e., the Head of Family, Uncles, Aunties, Cousins Nephews etc.,.
What Will We Get Under PNDCLaw 111?
The law deal with everything that belongs to the deceased that is not mentioned in a Will. It first deals with one house (usually the matrimonial home) and the personal belongings of the intestate before the remainder of the properties are dealt with.
Who Gets the House and the Personal Belongings?
Personal belongings – (Household chattel) These belong to the surviving spouse and the children. These are essentially anything in the home belonging to the deceased that is movable and not fixed to the property. This includes items like furniture, appliances, electronics, clothing, jewellery, and any other personal belongings.
A Single House – Where the deceased left only one house, then it belongs to the surviving spouse or child or both of them. This means where there is only one house left by the deceased, if there is a spouse and no child, then it belongs to the spouse. If there is a child and no spouse, then it is for the child and where there is both spouse and child, then it is for both of them.
Multiple Houses – Where the deceased left more than one house, then the spouse or child or both of them may choose one of the houses for themselves before the rest will be shared. If they cannot agree on which one of the houses to choose, then the Administrator can bring the dispute to the Court and the Court will make that choice for them. After the single house has been given to or selected by the spouse and child, the remainder of the estate is described as the “Residue”.
Where Spouse and Children Survive
In addition to the one (1) house and personal belongings, the surviving spouse and children receive the largest share of the estate.
Spouse
Jointly entitled with children
Children
Jointly entitled with spouse
Parents
Out of the residue estate
Customary Family
Distributed by tradition
What Can the Spouse and Children Inherit under PNDCLaw 111?
The Surviving Spouse and Children of the deceased are jointly entitled to 75% of the properties (18.75% and 56.25% respectively). The remaining 25% goes to the Surviving Parents and Extended Family (12.5% and 12.5%). Only the legally married wife or husband of the deceased will be recognized under PNDCL 111 as a Surviving Spouse. Divorcees, Girlfriends, Concubines, Side Chicks, Boy Toys etc., are all excluded.
The Law will recognize all the biological children of the deceased as Surviving Children. The Law will also recognize all the legally adopted children of the deceased as Surviving Children. Nephews, Nieces, Cousins etc. are all excluded unless they were legally adopted by the deceased.
Where Only Spouse Survives
Spouse
Receives the largest share
Parents
Of the residue estate
Customary Family
Distributed by tradition
Spouse Only
Where the deceased has no Children but dies leaving a Spouse(s), the Spouse will be entitled to 50% of the properties and the remaining 50% shared between the Parent and Extended Family (25% and 25% respectively).
Where Only the Children Survive
Children
Jointly entitled with spouse
Parents
Of the residue estate
Customary Family
Distributed by tradition
Child Only
If the deceased is survived by a Child(ren) but no Surviving Spouse(s) then the Child(ren) is entitled to 75% of the properties and the remaining 25% goes to the Parents and Extended Family (12.5% and 12.5% respectively).
Where Only the Parents Survive
Parents
Of the residue estate
Customary Family
Distributed by tradition
Parents Only
If the deceased person has no Spouse or Children, then the Surviving Parents, if any, will be entitled to 75% of the properties (the residue). The remaining 25% will go to the Extended Family.
Can Grandchildren Inherit Under PNDCLaw 111?
Grandchildren will only qualify if their parent (surviving child of the grandparent) predeceased the grandparent and the grandchildren were dependent on the grandparent during the grandparent’s lifetime. (i.e. Grandchildren were known by the deceased grandparent and if the deceased grandparent was taking care of them or maintaining them).
ILLUSTRATION – A: Kofi has a daughter Abena, and Abena has a son Kwame. Kofi is the grandparent, Abena is the parent and Kwame is the grandchild. Abena passed away in 1999, Kofi took care of Kwame from childhood until Kofi passed away intestate in 2005. Kwame will inherit Kofi. He will get the portion of the estate that would have gone to Abena if Abena were alive at the time that Kofi died.
ILLUSTRATION – B: Kofi has a daughter Abena, and Abena has a son Kwame. Kofi is the grandparent, Abena is the parent and Kwame is the grandchild. Kofi passed away intestate in 2005. Abena is alive and Kwame is also alive. Only Abena will get her portion as a surviving daughter of Kofi. Kwame will not qualify to inherit Kofi.
Other relatives who are not part of the qualified persons are not entitled to any share in the properties of the deceased.
How Can Grandchildren Inherit Under PNDCLaw 111?
Grandchildren do not automatically inherit. They only step into the shoes of their parent if specific timeline and dependency conditions are met.
A: Parent dies first
Parent (Abena)
Died 2005
Grandparent (Kofi)
Died 2007
Grandchild (Kwame)
Alive
B: Grandparent dies first
Grandparent (Kofi)
Died 2005
Parent (Abena)
Died 2007 or Alive
Grandchild (Kwame)
Alive
Additional Condition: Dependency
Dependency Link
Was the Grandchild dependent on the grandparent? Did the grandparent maintain and take care of the grandchild during their lifetime?
✓ IF YES = Qualifies
The grandchild steps into their deceased parent’s shoes and inherits their portion.
✕ IF NO = Disqualified
If there was no dependency or maintenance provided, the grandchild cannot inherit.
Legal Warning
Criminal Offences Under PNDCLaw 111
Violating the provisions of PNDCLaw 111 is a serious matter. The following acts are strict criminal offences punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or both.
1. Intermeddling
Handling property without Court Authority: It is a crime to handle, deal with, or distribute the property of a deceased person without first obtaining Letters of Administration or Probate.
Interfering with Beneficiaries: It is also a criminal offence to interfere with the right of the spouse, children, or any lawful beneficiary from enjoying the benefits of the property granted to them by law.
2. Unlawful Ejection
It is a criminal offence to eject a surviving spouse and/or child from their matrimonial home (the house they lived in with the deceased during their lifetime) before the estate is legally distributed. No one has the right to eject a spouse and/or child from the matrimonial home before the distribution of the estate
Lawful Ejection Process
- Rented Home: The Landlord may only eject them by obtaining a valid Court Order.
- Family Property: The extended family may only eject them after six (6) months from the date of death.
- Public/Government Housing: They may only be ejected after three (3) months from the date of death.
PNDCLaw 111 has been a transformative piece of legislation in Ghana, offering protection to surviving family members in cases of intestacy. Yet, after more than 30 years in force, the law requires reform to reflect current changes in family life and property ownership. While PNDCLaw 111 deserves recognition for its historic role, the time has come to update it to ensure that it continues to serve justice in today’s society.
Next Steps: Secure Your Inheritance Rights
Now that you understand the PNDCLaw 111, next step is to learn how to obtain Letters of Administration in Ghana.
Need Specific Legal Guidance? The information provided in this guide is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Because inheritance laws can be complex and highly specific to your family’s circumstances, we strongly recommend consulting a qualified lawyer before making any major decisions.
You may:
71 responses
Hi,
Which session of the PNDC Law allows SSNIT to give 60% of a Man’s(Died interstate) benefits to children who are Minors. How did SSNIT arrive by that determination even though portions of the law states that the part that goes to the children are to be distributed evenly. My older brother was named sole beneficiary by my father, and even though we understand the minors need to be taken care of or share in it because they are minors, why 60% to them.
You may reply privately, but I also consent to you replying here if you so wish.
Thank You.
Hello Emmanuel, Thanks for reaching out to us. The Ghana law allows for an underage child or a dependent of the deceased to apply to the High Court for reasonable provision to be made out of the Will, SSNIT benefits or other benefit of the deceased even if that child’s name is not mentioned as a beneficiary. This relief is granted by the High Court and the presiding Judge will determine the amount to be given after considering the other properties that the child has inherited out of the rest of the estate if any. I am not aware fo any law that grants SSNIT the right to unanimously make this determination.
Please what if a spouse who was not legally divorced left the deceased till the time of his death for over ten years. Would she be still considered as a spouse and also take part of the inheritance without a will.
Please, also can distribution of intestate be done without a letter of administration, because the customary successor is not willingly for attaining an LA. Thanks
Hello Princess, Thanks for reaching out to us. If there is a Will, then the properties of your late father will have to be shared in accordance with the WIll. If there is no Will then they will have to be shared under PNDCLaw 111. It is a criminal offence to handle the properties of a deceased person without first obtaining Letters of Administration or Probate. It is punishable by fine imprisonment or both. Only the COurt Appointed ADministrator has the Right to distribute the estate of a deceased person. under PNDCLaw 111. spouse – 18.75%, children – 55.25%, parent – 12.5% and extended family – 12.5%
Is it correct that under the law, if the deceased had only one house it goes to the surviving spouse and children?
Is it also correct that if the deceased had multiple houses, the surviving spouse and children are entitled to choose one of the houses and in addition have a share in the remaining houses ?
Hello Joseph,
Thanks for reaching out to us. Yes the Matrimonial home automatically belongs to the surviving spouse and children and they will have an additional selection if there are more houses in the estate. You can get a copy of the PNDCLaw 111 on our bookshop lexisghana.com/shop.
What does the law say concerning Cohabitation?
Hello Daniel,
The law will not allow a family to deny a concubine a share in the inheritance if the family have already acknowledged him/her as a wife during the lifetime of the deceased. This will apply even where there is no legal marriage between the concubine and the deceased. However, if the family never acknowledged the concubine as a spouse during the lifetime of the deceased, then he/she will not share in the inhritance as a surviving spouse.
Great to know this page.
My grandfather who is my mother’s father died in 1882 and yet his estates has not been shared.
My mother who’s father is the deceased died in 1986.
We are from the Northern part of Ghana and I want to know if my mother has a share in her late father’s properties if it is going to be shared now in 2023 ?
Thanks in advance
0243256120
Hello Foster,
Thanks for reaching out to us. Your mother’s inheritance rights will depend on several factors. Did your grandfather or your mother leave a will? Was L/A obtained to cover the properties or not? Who has possession of the estate currently? I will recommend you have a full consultation with your lawyer on this matter. You can reach out to us on our whatsapp platform and we can connect you to our lawyer if you choose.