Portuguese assets and authorities
Coordination of succession matters involving assets, registries and relevant entities in Portugal within the agreed scope of work.
Inheritance and Succession
Inheritance in Portugal
We assist heirs and families with inheritance matters in Portugal, including estates involving heirs living abroad, real estate, undivided estates and situations where the beneficiaries do not agree on how the estate should be dealt with.
Do you live abroad and have an inheritance in Portugal?
We can assess the situation and coordinate the legal steps required in Portugal. In many cases, a significant part of the Portuguese process may be handled through appropriate legal representation, without prejudice to acts or formalities that may require the beneficiary’s personal participation.
Legal assistance available in Portuguese, English, French and Spanish.
How we can assist
Legal support throughout the Portuguese inheritance process
Every estate is different. The first step is to understand who the heirs are, which assets are connected with Portugal, what has already been done and what the client wants to achieve.
Heirs living outside Portugal
Representation and coordination of Portuguese legal steps when one or more heirs live in another country.
View international inheritance supportDivision of the estate
Support in preparing, negotiating and formalising the division of inherited assets according to the circumstances of the estate.
View inheritance divisionUndivided estates and disputes between heirs
Assessment of the available options when the estate remains undivided or the heirs cannot agree on the assets.
View undivided inheritanceInherited property in Portugal
Review of the legal and registration position of Portuguese real estate and support with regularisation, division or a potential sale.
View inherited propertyHeirship declaration in Portugal
Support with the heirship declaration, organisation of succession documents and representation in Portugal, where applicable.
View heirship declarationFrom first assessment to resolution
How the legal assistance may be organised
The route depends on the composition of the estate, the countries involved, the documents available and the position of the different heirs.
01
Initial assessment
Identify the known heirs, Portuguese assets, available documents, any will and the client’s objectives.
02
Documents and representation
Determine the documents required and the appropriate form of representation in Portugal, where applicable.
03
Portuguese succession steps
Coordinate the succession formalities and liaise with the relevant entities and participants in Portugal.
04
Division or appropriate solution
Prepare the division of the estate, negotiate between interested parties or assess other routes where agreement is not possible, including legal support for a potential sale of assets where relevant.
Next step
Do you have an inheritance matter in Portugal?
Send us a short summary explaining where you live, who the known heirs are, which assets are in Portugal and what stage the matter has reached. Our team will review the request and indicate the appropriate next steps.
Initial review
Useful information when contacting us
You do not need to have every document before contacting us. Where available, the following information helps us understand the matter more quickly.
Identity of the deceased and date of death
Known heirs and their countries of residence
Death certificate and identification documents, if available
Information about any will
Known assets in Portugal, including real estate
Documents relating to property, accounts or other assets, if available
Information about succession steps already taken
Any known disagreement between the heirs
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about inheritance in Portugal
I live abroad. Can a Portuguese lawyer handle the inheritance without me travelling to Portugal?
Many steps may be handled in Portugal by a lawyer and, where legally appropriate, under a power of attorney or another form of representation. Whether you need to attend in person depends on the specific acts, documents and formalities involved.
What happens if I inherit property in Portugal?
The succession position and the legal status of the property should be reviewed together. Depending on the heirs’ objectives, the process may involve registration, division or allocation of the property, or preparation for a future sale.
What if the heirs cannot agree?
The appropriate approach depends on the assets, each heir’s position and the stage of the succession. An agreement should be assessed where possible and, if that is not achievable, the legal routes available to divide the estate or resolve the undivided situation should be considered.
Which law applies to an international inheritance connected with Portugal?
The applicable law does not depend only on where the assets are located. In an international succession, factors such as the deceased’s habitual residence, nationality, any valid choice of law and the relevant private international law rules may need to be considered. Each case requires individual assessment.
Can a Portuguese inheritance have tax consequences in another country?
Yes. A cross-border inheritance may create tax or reporting obligations in more than one jurisdiction. Portuguese legal assistance should be coordinated, where necessary, with tax or legal advice in the relevant foreign jurisdiction.
What should I send when I first contact the firm?
You can start by explaining who died, your relationship to that person, where you live, who the known heirs are, what assets are located in Portugal and what you would like to achieve. We can then identify the documents required for a fuller review.
Prefer to send information first?
You may send an initial message with your relationship to the deceased, country of residence, known heirs, assets in Portugal and any documents already available.
Send initial information