At 32nd African Congress: Notaries brainstorm on prevention, settlement of inheritance disputes.

The properties-facilitating experts are brainstorming on this topic at the 32^nd African Congress of Notaries which opened in Yaounde on Wednesday, October 25. 

The congress also being attended by lawyers, economic operators and representatives of partner institutions, is holding under the theme: “Inheritance law and the emergence of Africa: prevention and settlement of inheritance disputes”. 

It is organised by the Cameroon National Chambers of Notaries, CNNC, and the African Affairs Commission of the International Union of Notaries, CAAF-UINL. 

The notaries have been exchanging ideas to improve their practice and also inform the public about the consequences of poorly settled inheritance disputes.

The new crisis-resolving and prevention strategies, the notaries stated, is being done in consideration of the legal principles guiding the various sectors involved, while also respecting guidelines outlined by African customs and traditions when need be.  

According to organisers of the Yaounde come together, several inheritance disputes have over the years led to breakdown in families and enterprises folding up.

The notaries said they are hoping that by the end of their congress, they will be able to better educate the public on the dangers of such disputes which in most cases, come as a result of  double sale of land, unlawful occupation of land as well as other unscrupulous and fraudulent transactions leading to court cases.

“We are working hard to fight against the disappearance of these patrimonies belonging to families to curb the chaos...Now, it is becoming hard to handle that because economically, the shortcomings are becoming too damaging,” said Dooh Regine Collins, President of the Cameroon Chambers of Notaries.

Authorities, participants in a family photo after the launch of the congress

“We believe that through our role as advisers, we can bring up solutions and propose them to our respective governments and the civil society so that concrete solutions can be put in place acceptable for us all,” Dooh added.

Her view was also shared by CAAF-UINL President, Benin’s Olagnika Salam.

Gov’t pledges support

Speaking at the start of the Congress, the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Justice and Keeper of Seals, Jean De Dieu Momo, praised the initiative from the African notaries and their partners.

He said the theme chosen for the Yaounde forum is an all-involving one that touches almost everyone in the continent and demands interventions. 

“The theme chosen interests us all. We are witnesses to how inheritance and succession are usually managed in ways that are very disturbing sometimes. They always bring disputes within families and compromise the national economy,” the member of government said. 

Minister Momo added: “When the head of a family or someone who created an enterprise is no longer there, generally, the successor sometimes destroy the common good which most times bring about conflicts”.

He promised government’s support to the notaries as they seek to ensure they get the best approaches in settling inheritance dispute or by even preventing them from occurring in the first place. 

“The government of Cameroon is standing with African notaries. We hope that at the end of their meeting, they will have solutions to help us adapt and regulate the problems of inheritance and succession in our country and the continent,” the minister said.