'You don't need a lawyer to make a will' – Yamoah Paintsil

Lawyer and family life counsellor, Kweku Yamoah Paintsil, has clarified that Ghanaians do not need a lawyer to make a valid will, stressing that the law allows individuals to prepare their own wills as long as they clearly state their intentions in writing and comply with the legal requirements.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Paintsil explained that a will is simply a document through which a person states how their property should be distributed after their death.

"There's no law that requires only a lawyer to make a will. There are people who make their own wills. It's just an expression of your intentions in writing," he said.

He noted, however, that after a will is made, it should be deposited at the registry of a court. He added that if the person dies and the will has not yet been lodged, anyone in possession of a copy has a legal obligation to deposit it at a court registry.

According to him, wills are typically deposited at district, circuit or high courts, where they are entered into the wills register to make them easier to locate after the testator's death.

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Paintsil further explained that when relatives are unsure whether a deceased family member left a will, lawyers can write to the court registry to determine whether one has been deposited.

He also disclosed that although it is common practice in Ghana for family members to be invited for a formal reading of the will, this is a matter of practice rather than a legal requirement.

Paintsil added that while a person does not need legal representation to prepare a will, a lawyer is required after the person's death to apply to the court for probate.

Once probate is granted, the executor named in the will is legally empowered to carry out the wishes of the deceased in accordance with the law.

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Did you know you don't need a lawyer to make a will? Lawyer Paintsil sets the record straight.#HomeAffairs pic.twitter.com/6rQwJRTcy7

— Joy 99.7 FM (@Joy997FM) July 1, 2026