Inheritance Law · Europe
Establish Your Heirship Rights With the Right Lawyer
When someone dies without a clear will, the law — not the family — decides who inherits. We match you, free of charge, with a vetted inheritance lawyer who establishes your heirship in the relevant European country, from the certificate or declaration of heirship through to registering property and releasing assets.
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Who this is for
Proving who inherits is the first — and most easily mishandled — step
Establishing heirship means proving, in law, who is entitled to inherit from a person who has died. When a valid will exists, it normally sets out the beneficiaries; when there is no will, or the will is silent or unclear, the question of who inherits is decided by the succession rules of the relevant country. Those rules vary enormously across Europe. Some jurisdictions reserve a fixed share of an estate for a spouse or children, while others allow the deceased to dispose of almost everything freely. The distinction matters at every step, from obtaining a certificate or declaration of heirship to registering inherited property and transferring accounts. Cross-border cases are especially delicate, because the factors determining which country’s law applies are not always obvious. We match you with a lawyer who handles heirship and succession questions in the relevant country, so your entitlement is established correctly and without delay.
Why families get stuck
Heirship is rarely disputed because of the law.
It’s the proof that stalls everything.
Without a formal declaration of heirship, no bank, court or land registry will release anything to you.
No will, no clarity
When someone dies without a will, the law — not the family — decides who inherits and in what shares. Working out which country’s rules apply and who actually qualifies as an heir can take far longer than families expect.
Proving your entitlement
Banks, land registries and courts rarely accept a family’s word. You typically need a formal certificate, declaration or court order confirming your status as heir before any asset can be released or transferred to you.
Cross-border confusion
When the deceased lived, held property or kept assets in more than one country, several sets of succession rules can compete. Identifying the governing law early prevents costly dead-ends and conflicting claims.
What you get
A succession lawyer who establishes your heirship properly
We only match you with lawyers who handle heirship and succession matters in your relevant country every day.
Clear legal status
Your lawyer confirms which succession rules govern the estate and obtains the certificate, declaration or court decision that formally establishes your standing as an heir.
Documentation handled
From birth and marriage certificates to notarial declarations and sworn translations, your lawyer assembles and certifies exactly what the authorities in each relevant country require.
Cross-border coordination
When an estate spans several countries, your lawyer identifies the applicable law and coordinates the steps in each jurisdiction so nothing is overlooked or duplicated.
Protection against disputes
Establishing heirship properly and early reduces the risk of later challenges from other relatives or claimants, and gives you a firm basis to secure your share.
Coverage
Heirship lawyers across Europe
Succession rules are set nationally, and the country whose law governs an estate can depend on nationality, residence, or where assets are located. We match heirship cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Heirship — common questions
What does heirship mean?
Heirship is your legal status as a person entitled to inherit from someone who has died. It is established either by a valid will that names you, or by the succession rules of the relevant country when there is no will. Proving that status usually requires a formal document before any asset can be transferred to you.
Who inherits when there is no will?
The answer depends entirely on the succession law of the country that governs the estate. Most European systems set out an order of relatives — typically a spouse and children first, then parents, siblings and wider family — but the shares and rules differ significantly from one country to the next.
What is a certificate or declaration of heirship?
It is the formal document, issued by a notary or a court depending on the country, that confirms who the legal heirs are and in what shares. Banks, land registries and other institutions normally require it before they will release or re-register inherited assets in your name.
Which country’s law applies to my inheritance?
It can depend on several factors, including the deceased’s nationality, their habitual residence and where the assets are located — and different countries follow different rules for deciding this. A cross-border succession lawyer can identify the governing law before you begin, saving time and avoiding conflicts.
How do I prove I am an heir to a bank or land registry?
Each institution has its own requirements, but most will ask for a certificate of inheritance, a declaration of heirship or an equivalent court or notarial document, along with identification and supporting records such as birth and marriage certificates. A lawyer can assemble exactly what each body needs.
Can a lawyer help establish heirship across several countries?
Yes. When an estate spans multiple jurisdictions, a lawyer experienced in cross-border succession can determine which law governs, obtain the required declarations in each country and coordinate the steps so the process moves as quickly as the rules allow.
Free case review
Establish your inheritance rights without the guesswork
Tell us about the estate and we’ll connect you with a succession lawyer who handles heirship cases in the relevant country every day — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.