Get the Public Trustee to handle a deceased person's estate
Public Trustee, Office of the Attorney General · sources read 1 Oct 2026
Open an estate file at a Public Trustee office with two certified copies of the death certificate and a signed Report of Death Form. For small estates, the Public Trustee issues a Certificate of Summary Administration at no charge, so the family can avoid a full court succession.
- Fee
- FreeCertificate of Summary Administration (small estates)KSh 2,500Administration deposit to open a file, where the Public Trustee holds no estate funds yetKSh 1,200Petition for Letters of Administration (average, paid from the estate)
- How long
- About 7 days for a Certificate of Summary Administration, after the 30-day advert for claims
- Where
- In person at the Public Trustee (Administrator General) head office in Nairobi or a regional office: Kisumu, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa, Kakamega, Embu, Nyeri, Kisii, Machakos, Garissa, Meru, Eldoret or Nakuru
What you need
- Two certified copies of the death certificate
- Report of Death Form, signed and witnessed
- Certified copies of national ID cards or birth certificates
- Copies of title deeds, logbooks or share certificates, plus details of bank accounts and other investments
- A list of heirs and consent forms, signed and witnessed
Steps
- Visit a Public Trustee office with the death certificates, Report of Death Form, IDs and asset documents to open an estate file. This takes about 2 days.
- Hand in the list of heirs and signed consent forms. The Public Trustee then advertises for claims against the estate, which takes 30 days.
- For a small estate, disclose its full value and get immovable assets valued. The Public Trustee prepares a Certificate of Summary Administration within 7 days. Bigger estates go to court through a petition for Letters of Administration.
- Heirs sign a Discharge and Indemnity, and the Public Trustee distributes the estate. The distribution account is drawn within 15 days.
Watch out
- Official pages give different value limits for summary administration (KSh 500,000 on one page, KSh 3,000,000 on another). Confirm the current limit with the Public Trustee office before you start.
- The Public Trustee takes a fee from the estate when it is distributed: 12% on the first KSh 4,000, falling in bands down to 1% on the balance.
Who can apply
- Families and heirs of a person who has died, who want the Public Trustee to take over and administer the estate.
- Small estates qualify for a Certificate of Summary Administration (see the value limit note below).
Official sources (2)
- Public Trustee (Administrator General) statelaw.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- Requirements for Administration of Estates statelaw.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026