Inheritance & Probate Law · Europe
Settle an International Inheritance Without Getting Lost Between Two Legal Systems
When an estate crosses a border — property abroad, accounts in another country, a relative who lived and died overseas — two or more legal systems can pull in different directions at once. We match you, free of charge, with a vetted lawyer who handles international inheritance cases across Europe every day, so you know which law applies and how to settle the estate properly.
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Who this is for
A death in one country can create legal obligations in several others at once
An international inheritance is an estate that involves more than one legal system — because the deceased owned property or held assets abroad, lived in a different country from their heirs, or held more than one nationality. In these cases a single set of rules rarely applies cleanly. Different countries may claim the right to govern the succession, apply their own forced-heirship protections, or levy their own taxes on the estate. You may be an heir living in one country trying to claim a share of assets held in another, a surviving spouse facing a foreign property you never visited, or an executor who must wind up an estate that spans three jurisdictions. The central difficulty is always the same: determining which law governs, and which steps are needed where, before anyone signs or renounces anything.
Why cross-border cases stall
International estates fail on coordination,
not on the size of the estate.
Different countries apply different succession rules, taxes and procedures — and acting on the wrong country’s rules can unravel the whole settlement.
Conflicting succession rules
One country may apply the law of the deceased’s residence while another insists on nationality, and each may reserve a different share for the family — leaving heirs unsure which rules actually bind them.
Assets scattered across borders
A property in one country, a pension in another and bank accounts in a third each trigger separate procedures, translations and deadlines that a single domestic process will not cover.
Double taxation and paperwork
The same estate can face exposure to taxes and reporting duties in more than one jurisdiction, and coordinating the required certificates and filings across borders is where most families become overwhelmed.
What you get
A cross-border inheritance lawyer who brings the pieces together
We only match you with lawyers experienced in estates that involve more than one European jurisdiction.
Determination of the governing law
Your lawyer identifies which country’s succession law applies to the estate, including any choice of law under the EU Succession Regulation, so every later step rests on the correct foundation.
Coordination across jurisdictions
Rather than chasing separate advisers in each country, you work with one lawyer who organises the necessary steps, documents and local procedures where they are actually needed.
Tax and reporting guidance
Your lawyer maps the inheritance and estate taxes that may apply in each relevant country and helps you structure the settlement to avoid surprises and double exposure.
One clear path to settlement
You get a single, sequenced plan for winding up the estate — from locating assets to transferring them to the right heirs — instead of a tangle of conflicting advice from different systems.
Coverage
International inheritance lawyers across Europe
Because cross-border estates typically involve two or more jurisdictions, the right support often spans several countries at once. We match cases involving the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
International inheritance — common questions
Which law applies to an international inheritance?
It depends on the circumstances. Many European countries apply the law of the deceased’s last habitual residence, while others look to nationality, and the EU Succession Regulation allows a person to choose their national law in certain situations. A lawyer can determine which rules govern your specific case.
Do I have to deal with courts in more than one country?
Not necessarily, but frequently yes. If the deceased owned property or held assets in another country, that country’s procedures may still be required to transfer or register them there, even when one law governs the succession overall.
Will I be taxed in more than one country?
Possibly. Different countries impose their own inheritance or estate taxes, though many have treaties or relief rules that reduce double taxation. A lawyer can map your exposure across the relevant jurisdictions and advise on the most efficient approach.
What is the EU Succession Regulation?
It is a set of rules adopted across most EU countries that determines, broadly, which country’s law governs a cross-border succession and which courts can deal with it. It does not apply to every country or every asset, so its effect on your case should be confirmed with a lawyer.
I live in one country but inherited property in another — where do I start?
Start by establishing which succession law governs the estate, then identify what must be done in the country where the property sits, such as registering the transfer or paying local tax. A lawyer can sequence these steps so nothing is missed.
Can one lawyer handle everything, or do I need several?
A lawyer experienced in cross-border inheritance can typically coordinate the process across the relevant countries, often working with local contacts where a specific filing or appearance is required. This is usually simpler and more reliable than managing separate advisers yourself.
Free case review
One lawyer, one plan, every country covered
Tell us where the assets and heirs are located and we’ll connect you with a lawyer who handles international inheritance cases like yours — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.