International inheritance
Inheritance in Portugal for heirs living abroad
We assist heirs who live outside Portugal and need to deal with a Portuguese inheritance, regularise assets, organise the division of the estate or coordinate other succession-related steps in Portugal.
Do you need to travel to Portugal to deal with the inheritance?
Not always. Many steps may be coordinated through a Portuguese lawyer and, where legally appropriate, by power of attorney or another form of representation. Whether personal attendance is required depends on the specific acts and formalities involved.
Legal assistance is available in Portuguese, English, French and Spanish. Travel, powers of attorney and other formalities depend on the acts required and the specific case.
Handling an inheritance in Portugal while living abroad
Living abroad does not, by itself, prevent a Portuguese inheritance from being handled, but it may require additional coordination of documents, representation, assets and parties. The aim is to organise the Portuguese side of the matter, identify what may be handled remotely and anticipate formalities that depend on the specific case.
Living in the United States? View guidance for US heirsWhen we can assist
Common situations when an heir lives outside Portugal
Distance can make it harder to understand which documents are required, which Portuguese entities need to be contacted and how several heirs should coordinate. Legal assistance should start with the facts of the particular estate.
You inherited property in Portugal
Review of the inheritance and the property’s legal and registration status, including steps required for regularisation, division or a possible sale.
The heirs live in different countries
Coordination of Portuguese legal steps where the beneficiaries are based in different jurisdictions.
You are unsure which documents are needed
Identification of the information already available and the Portuguese or foreign documents that may be relevant to move forward.
You need representation in Portugal
Assessment of whether a Portuguese lawyer can represent you and of the appropriate power of attorney or mandate, where applicable.
The heirs do not agree
Review of the undivided estate, each beneficiary’s position and the legal options available to work towards a resolution.
You want to complete and regularise the estate
Coordination of the Portuguese steps required to reach an appropriate resolution, within the scope of the engagement.
Working from abroad
How the Portuguese side of the inheritance can be organised
The steps depend on the deceased’s habitual residence, the countries involved, the assets, the heirs and any action already taken. We normally start by gathering the relevant information before defining the Portuguese legal work.
International case assessment
Identify the deceased, heirs, countries involved, assets in Portugal, any will and any inheritance steps already taken.
Documents and legal framework
Review available documents and identify formalities that may be required in Portugal, including documents issued abroad.
Representation and Portuguese legal steps
Where possible and appropriate, the firm coordinates the required steps in Portugal and liaises with the relevant entities and other parties.
Division, regularisation or final resolution
The work may continue through estate division, asset regularisation, negotiations between heirs or preparation for a possible sale, depending on the case.
Legal support
What may be reviewed and coordinated in Portugal
The scope depends on the stage of the inheritance, the countries involved, the documents available and the heir’s objective. Where appropriate, legal support may include:
Initial framing of the international succession and identification of the elements connected with Portugal.
Review of available documents concerning the death, heirs, any will and steps already taken.
Assessment of the formalities required for foreign documents to be used in Portugal.
Assessment of whether representation in Portugal is possible and which powers may be required, where legally appropriate.
Coordination of steps involving assets in Portugal, including identified real estate and other assets.
Support with estate division, asset regularisation or analysis of an undivided estate.
Legal coordination with heirs and relevant parties in Portugal within the agreed scope.
Legal preparation for a possible transfer or sale of inherited assets where this is the heirs’ objective.
Representation in Portugal
Where legally possible, certain steps may be organised through a lawyer or appropriate representation, reducing the need to travel.
Documents issued abroad
Foreign documents may require an apostille, legalisation, certification or translation depending on their country of origin and intended use.
Coordination across countries
Where heirs live in different countries, communications, documents and decisions should be coordinated consistently with the steps taking place in Portugal.
Initial contact
Information useful for an initial review
You do not need to have every document before contacting us. Where available, the following information helps us understand the international dimension of the estate more quickly.
Name of the deceased, date of death and last known residence
Your relationship to the deceased and your current country of residence
Known heirs and the countries where they live
Information about any will or inheritance process already started
Known assets in Portugal, particularly real estate
Death certificate, identification and inheritance documents, if available
Information about steps already taken with a notary, registry, bank or other entity
Main objective: regularise, divide, resolve a dispute, retain or sell assets
Related services
Other legal support for inheritance matters in Portugal
An inheritance may involve several connected issues. These pages help frame the situation, organise documents and prepare the next steps in Portugal.
Main page
Inheritance in Portugal
Overview of legal support for inheritance and succession matters connected with Portugal.
View main pageHeirship declaration
Heirship declaration in Portugal
Formal identification of the heirs, succession documents, wills and representation where applicable.
View heirship declarationUndivided estate
Undivided inheritance in Portugal
Support when the estate remains undivided or the heirs disagree about how the assets should be dealt with.
View undivided inheritanceEstate division
Inheritance division in Portugal
Preparation, negotiation and formalisation of the division of inherited assets between the interested parties.
View inheritance divisionReal estate
Inherited property in Portugal
Succession and registration work for inherited property, including preparation for division, allocation or a future sale.
View inherited propertyNext step
Need help with an inheritance in Portugal?
Send a brief description of the situation, where you live, the known heirs and the assets located in Portugal.
Send initial informationNext step
Do you have an inheritance in Portugal while living abroad?
Send us a short summary including your country of residence, your relationship to the deceased, the known heirs and the assets located in Portugal. Our team will review the request and outline the appropriate next steps.
FAQ
Common questions from heirs living outside Portugal
Can I deal with an inheritance in Portugal if I live abroad?
Yes. A Portuguese inheritance can be handled while the heir lives abroad. Many steps may be coordinated through a lawyer and, where legally appropriate, through representation. Any need to travel should be assessed according to the acts and formalities required in the particular case.
Can a Portuguese lawyer represent me in the inheritance process?
Representation is possible for many legal steps, but the powers required and the appropriate form depend on what needs to be done. Where a power of attorney is required, its wording and execution formalities should be prepared for the specific case.
Can documents issued abroad be used in Portugal?
Often yes, although specific formalities may be required, such as certification, apostille or legalisation and, in some cases, translation. The requirements depend on the document, the country of issue and the Portuguese procedure for which it will be used.
If the assets are in Portugal, does Portuguese law always govern the inheritance?
Not necessarily. In an international succession, the applicable law is not determined only by the location of the assets. The deceased’s habitual residence, nationality, any valid choice of law and the applicable private international law rules may all be relevant.
What if I inherited a house or apartment in Portugal?
The inheritance position and the property’s legal and registration status should be considered together. Depending on the heirs’ objective, the matter may involve regularisation, division, allocation of the property or preparation for a future sale.
What if the heirs live in several countries or do not agree?
The fact that the heirs live in different countries does not, by itself, prevent the Portuguese estate from being handled. If there is disagreement, each beneficiary’s position, the composition of the estate and the available legal routes should be assessed before deciding how to proceed.
Can a Portuguese inheritance have tax consequences where I live?
Yes. An international inheritance may create tax or reporting obligations in more than one jurisdiction. Where necessary, Portuguese legal assistance should be coordinated with tax or legal advice in the heir’s country of residence or another relevant jurisdiction.
What should I send Mendes & Silva in the first message?
Start by explaining who died, your relationship to that person, where you live, who the known heirs are, which assets are in Portugal and what you want to achieve. We can then indicate which documents are useful for a more complete review.
Prefer to send information first?
You can send an initial message with your country of residence, relationship to the deceased, known heirs, assets in Portugal and any documents already available.
Send initial information