Courts’ role in succession

By Musyoki Kimanthi

Q: My father passed on last year leaving some money in the bank. My mother has on several occasions tried accessing it to help pay my school fees but the bank won’t release it despite my mother’s explanation of my dad’s death and even producing the death certificate, her identity card and a letter from our chief to prove she is the wife. We are told we have to report the death in court. What is this all about?