Although living customary law regulates the lives of most Nigerians, the extent to which courts apply it is unclear. Living customary law denotes the norms that govern daily life in local communities, in contra-distinction with official customary law or the perception of outsiders. Divergence between official and living customary law features prominently in customary laws of succession, which are out of tune with people's adaption to changes in social and economic conditions. These laws were suited to agrarian societies and aimed at providing material support to deceased persons' families. Official customary law has not kept pace with people's adaption to social changes, thereby causing hardship to women and younger children. This study examines the extent to which courts apply living customary law in Nigeria. It will reach its findings through participant observation, interview of judges and litigants, and examination of consonance and dissonance in decisions of local and superior courts.