Trusts & Estates
The go-to wealth transfer and planning resource for high-net-worth individuals. We help you preserve, protect, and pass on your legacy.
Protecting What Matters Most
You've spent a lifetime building your wealth. Without proper planning, it can be eroded by disputes, mismanagement, or unintended distribution. We ensure your legacy endures.
Family Succession Disputes
Without clear estate plans, families tear apart over inheritance, leading to costly and emotionally devastating court battles.
Wealth Erosion Across Generations
Studies show most family wealth is lost by the third generation. Proper trust structures and governance can break this cycle.
Business Continuity Risk
The sudden loss of a founder without succession planning can destabilize a business, affecting employees, partners, and clients.
Inadequate Asset Protection
Personal assets exposed to business risks, creditor claims, or litigation can be lost without proper structural protections.
Lengthy Probate Process
Kenya's probate process can take years, leaving beneficiaries unable to access assets when they need them most.
Wealth Planning Experts
- Bespoke estate plans
- Trust structuring & setup
- Multi-generational planning
- Asset protection strategies
- Discreet, confidential service
Estate Planning
Estate Planning & Succession
Thoughtful estate planning ensures your wealth is distributed according to your wishes, minimizes family disputes, and preserves your legacy across generations. We create comprehensive plans tailored to your unique family and financial circumstances.
Trust Creation & Administration
Trusts are powerful tools for wealth management, asset protection, and intergenerational transfers. We design, establish, and administer trusts that serve your family's objectives while complying with Kenyan law.
Trust Solutions
Asset Protection
Asset Protection & Wealth Preservation
Protecting your wealth from unforeseen claims, business risks, and family disputes requires careful legal structuring. We design asset protection strategies that are robust, compliant, and tailored to your risk profile.
Probate & Estate Administration
When a loved one passes, the last thing you need is legal complexity. We handle the entire probate process efficiently and sensitively, ensuring the estate is administered according to the deceased's wishes or the law.
Probate Services
"Mwangi Kiai LLP helped our family establish a trust that has given us peace of mind about our legacy. Their understanding of wealth transfer for high-net-worth families in Kenya is unmatched. They took the time to understand our family dynamics and crafted a solution that works for everyone."
How We Plan Your Legacy
A discreet, personalized approach to wealth transfer and estate planning.
Discovery
We understand your family, assets, objectives, and concerns through confidential discussions.
Plan Design
We design a bespoke estate plan with the optimal mix of wills, trusts, and protective structures.
Implementation
We draft documents, establish trusts, and execute the plan with precision and confidentiality.
Ongoing Review
We regularly review and update your plan as family circumstances, laws, and assets evolve.
Trusts & Estates FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions about trusts, estate planning, and succession in Kenya.
View All FAQsWithout proper estate planning, your assets will be distributed according to Kenya's Law of Succession Act, which may not reflect your wishes. Estate planning ensures your wealth is transferred to your chosen beneficiaries, minimizes disputes, reduces tax exposure, and protects vulnerable family members. For high-net-worth individuals, it also preserves business continuity and family wealth across generations.
Kenya recognizes several types of trusts including inter vivos (living) trusts created during your lifetime, testamentary trusts created through your will, charitable trusts for philanthropic purposes, and family trusts for managing family wealth. Each serves different purposes — from asset protection and succession planning to charitable giving. We help you select and structure the right trust for your objectives.
Probate is the legal process of validating a will and administering a deceased person's estate. In Kenya, you must apply for a Grant of Probate (if there's a will) or Letters of Administration (if there's no will) from the High Court. The process involves filing a petition, publishing a notice, waiting for any objections, and then distributing the estate. It typically takes 6-12 months. Our team handles the entire process efficiently.
Yes, through proper structuring using trusts, holding companies, and other legal vehicles, you can protect your assets from potential claims, family disputes, and business risks. The key is planning ahead — asset protection structures must be established before any claims arise to be effective. We design customized protection strategies that are legally sound under Kenyan law.
If you die intestate (without a will) in Kenya, the Law of Succession Act determines how your estate is distributed. Generally, your surviving spouse receives personal and household effects plus a life interest in the rest. Children share the remainder equally. This rigid formula may not suit your wishes and can lead to family disputes. Having a professionally drafted will gives you control over your legacy.
Ready to Secure Your Legacy?
Whether you're planning for the future or navigating a succession matter, our trusts and estates team provides the expertise and discretion that high-net-worth clients demand.