Estate Inventory Form (Ghana)

An Estate Inventory Form in Ghana documents the information it compiles so the parties can rely on it.

Section 1 of the Administration of Estates Act 1961 (Act 63) imposes on every personal representative in Ghana the duty to collect, inventory, and protect the estate assets pending administration and distribution. The High Court (Probate and Administration Division) in Accra and the regional High Courts may require personal representatives to submit a sworn Inventory of Assets with the Probate or Letters of Administration application, confirming under oath the completeness and accuracy of the estate account. Failure to prepare an accurate inventory may expose the personal representative to personal liability for losses suffered by beneficiaries or creditors.

The Estate Inventory Form (Ghana) must be distinguished from the Estate Administration Form, which records the broader administration process — legal authority, distributions, and accounting. The Estate Inventory is specifically the asset and liability schedule: a snapshot of the estate's composition at the date of death, with current market valuations supporting the administration process and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) tax assessment under the Income Tax Act 2015 (Act 896).

Land and property registered at the Lands Commission under the Land Title Registration Act 1986 (PNDCL 152) must be identified in the Estate Inventory by parcel number, Lands Commission certificate number, and current valuation. The Lands Valuation Division of the Lands Commission (Lands Valuation Board) provides official valuations of real property for estate purposes, and these valuations are used by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to assess capital gains tax obligations on land transfers from the estate to beneficiaries under the Income Tax Act 2015 (Act 896).

Investment assets — shares in companies registered under the Companies Act 2019 (Act 992) at the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC), listed shares on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), government bonds, Treasury bills, unit trust interests, and pension entitlements under the National Pensions Act 2008 (Act 766) administered by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and NPRA-regulated Tier 2 and Tier 3 fund managers — must all be separately itemised in the Inventory with their value as at the date of death.

An Estate Inventory Form in Ghana is required at multiple stages of estate administration following a person's death.

An Estate Inventory Form is required when an executor or administrator files an application for Probate or Letters of Administration at the High Court (Probate and Administration Division) in Accra or a regional High Court. The Court's practice directions require the personal representative to provide a list of estate assets and estimated values supporting the application, and the Estate Inventory provides this documentation in a structured and sworn format.

An Estate Inventory Form is needed when the personal representative must engage the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to obtain Tax Clearance Certificates for estate assets. The GRA uses the Inventory to calculate any capital gains tax, income tax arrears, and withholding tax obligations of the deceased and the estate during administration under the Income Tax Act 2015 (Act 896). Without a complete Inventory, the GRA cannot issue Tax Clearance and Bank of Ghana-licensed banks will not release account balances.

An Estate Inventory Form is required when the estate includes shares in a company registered at the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) under the Companies Act 2019 (Act 992). The ORC requires proof of the personal representative's court appointment and a schedule of the deceased's shareholding before approving the transfer of shares to the estate or to beneficiaries. The Estate Inventory provides the share schedule.

An Estate Inventory Form is needed when the estate includes SSNIT pension benefits under the National Pensions Act 2008 (Act 766) or Tier 2 and Tier 3 pension fund balances with NPRA-regulated fund managers. Pension fund administrators require death certificate, Letters of Administration, and an estate inventory specifying the pension assets as part of the benefit claim process.

An Estate Inventory Form is required when the personal representative needs to account to the beneficiaries at the conclusion of administration, demonstrating that all estate assets were collected, all liabilities discharged, and the net estate distributed in accordance with the Will or the Intestate Succession Act 1985 (PNDCL 111).

A complete Estate Inventory Form in Ghana under the Administration of Estates Act 1961 (Act 63) must contain the following essential elements.

Deceased's Identifying Information: Full legal name, date of death, High Court Grant reference number (Probate or Letters of Administration), and the personal representative's name and authority. The Estate Inventory is typically filed with or appended to the estate accounts submitted to the High Court and to beneficiaries.

Real Property Schedule: All land and buildings owned by the deceased at the date of death, identified by Lands Commission parcel number, certificate of title number, physical address, administrative region, nature of title (freehold or leasehold), any registered encumbrances (charges or cautions on record at the Lands Commission under the Land Title Registration Act 1986 - PNDCL 152), and the current market value as assessed by the Lands Valuation Division.

Bank Accounts and Financial Instruments: Name of each Bank of Ghana-licensed bank, branch, account number, account type (current, savings, fixed deposit), balance as at the date of death, and any joint account or survivorship arrangements. Government of Ghana Treasury bills and bonds held through the Bank of Ghana's primary dealer network, Ghana Stock Exchange-listed share portfolio details, and unit trust holdings with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulated fund managers must all be separately itemised with value as at date of death.

Pension and Insurance Assets: SSNIT pension entitlement (Tier 1), Tier 2 pension fund balance with the named NPRA-regulated fund manager, Tier 3 voluntary pension balance (if applicable), life insurance policies with National Insurance Commission (NIC) licensed insurers — policy number, insurer, sum assured, nominated beneficiary, and current surrender value.

Business Interests: Shareholding in companies registered at the ORC under the Companies Act 2019 (Act 992) — company name, registration number, number and class of shares, per-share value, and any shareholder agreement restrictions on transfer. Partnership interests and sole trader business assets (equipment, inventory, receivables) should be itemised separately.

Personal Property and Vehicles: Motor vehicles (DVLA registration number, make, model, year, current market value), high-value personal effects (jewellery, art, antiques), and other personal property above a de minimis threshold.

Liabilities Schedule: Outstanding mortgages and land charges (amount, lender, property secured), unsecured bank loans, trade creditors, unpaid tax assessments from the GRA, and any court judgments outstanding against the deceased. The forms-legal.com Estate Inventory Form (Ghana) template is designed for use alongside the Ghana Estate Administration Form to provide a complete estate administration record. Personal representatives should retain all supporting valuations, bank statements, and title documents as evidence of the inventory values.

Additional compliance elements for a Estate Inventory Form (Ghana) used in Ghana include: Under the Wills Act 1971 (Act 360), the High Court of Ghana has jurisdiction over probate. Section 2 of the Wills Act 1971 sets formal requirements for valid wills. The Intestate Succession Law 1985 (PNDC Law 111) provides for surviving spouse, children, and parents. The Administration of Estates Act 1961 (Act 63) governs estate administration. The Head of Family Accountability under the PNDC Law 111 protects family property interests. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Ghana-compliant documentation.