Estate Planning · Sweden
Estate planning lawyer in Sweden
Swedish succession law mixes a strong default marital property regime with a reserved portion that no will can override. Whether you are writing a will, declaring separate property or dealing with an estate after a death, a specialist makes the process clearer. We match you with a Swedish lawyer who handles exactly this kind of work.
- Wills, laglott and marriage settlements
- Estate inventory and cross-border assets
- Free matching, no obligation to instruct
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Why this matters
Planning an estate under Swedish law
Estate planning in Sweden is more than writing a will. The default position is joint marital property, divided equally on divorce or death unless property has been declared separate (enskild egendom) in writing, and direct heirs keep a reserved portion (laglott) that no will can remove. An estate planning lawyer in Sweden looks at the whole picture: wills, marriage settlements, insurance, business succession, bouppteckning and the position of the people you leave behind. Because Sweden abolished inheritance and gift tax at the end of 2004, planning usually turns on control, fairness and avoiding disputes rather than tax. We match you free of charge with a lawyer who handles Swedish succession and family property matters.
Sweden in practice
How estate planning works in Sweden
Swedish succession rules are shaped by a protected reserved portion for direct heirs and by a marital property regime that applies unless you opt out in writing. The practical deadlines around a death are short, so early advice is useful.
Who may call themselves an advokat
Only a member of the Swedish Bar Association may use the protected title ‘advokat’, and presenting yourself as one without membership is a criminal offence. Admission requires a law degree, at least three years of qualified legal practice and a pass in the bar examination. Checking bar membership is a simple quality test before you share family or financial details.
No inheritance or gift tax since 2005
Sweden abolished its inheritance tax (arvsskatt) and gift tax (gåvoskatt) with effect from the end of 2004, so nothing is payable on an inheritance received in Sweden today. The repealed legislation still applies only to tax liability that arose before 2005. Planning therefore tends to focus on control, fairness between heirs and the smooth administration of the estate.
Reserved portion (laglott) for direct heirs
A direct heir — a child or grandchild — is always entitled to their reserved portion (laglott), equal to half of their statutory share of the estate. This portion cannot be taken away by a will. If a will cuts across it, the heir must claim the laglott within six months of being served with the will, which makes an early review of the document important.
Joint marital property and enskild egendom
The default marital property regime in Sweden is joint marital property (giftorättsgods), divided equally on divorce or on death unless property has been declared separate (enskild egendom) in writing. A surviving spouse also benefits from a minimum base amount rule, retaining at least four base amounts. Marriage settlements and written ownership declarations are therefore central planning tools.
Estate inventory (bouppteckning) and its deadlines
An estate inventory (bouppteckning) must generally be prepared within three months of the death, with registration following within one month after that. The document records the assets, the debts and the heirs. Missing these steps can create liability for those administering the estate, so a lawyer often coordinates the inventory alongside any will or challenge to it.
Costs and state legal aid (rättshjälp)
State legal aid (rättshjälp) is generally available to individuals whose income and assets do not exceed SEK 260,000 per year. Legal advice under the Legal Aid Act is charged at a fixed state-subsidised rate of SEK 2,032.50 per hour in 2026, with a reduced fee for lower incomes. Many succession matters fall outside legal aid, so ask for a written fee estimate in advance.
The Swedish details on this page come from official national and European judicial sources (Government Offices of Sweden, Swedish Bar Association, Skatteverket, Domstol and the Swedish Parliament), consulted in 2026.
- Government Offices of Sweden — Death and inheritance
- Swedish Bar Association — Becoming an advokat
- Skatteverket — Repeal of inheritance and gift tax
- Domstol — Legal aid and hourly rates
- Swedish Parliament — Administrative Procedure Act (2017:900)
- Swedish Parliament — Limitation Act (1981:130)
- Swedish Parliament — Employment Protection Act (1982:80)
- Domstol — Divorce and division of property
- Domstol — Renting a home or premises
Common concerns
What brings clients to us
Most people arrive with the same practical worries about Swedish succession law.
A will that may not hold
You have written or inherited a will and are unsure whether it respects the reserved portion (laglott) that direct heirs are always entitled to claim. Wills
Blended families and property
Second marriages, jointly owned homes and property brought into the relationship raise questions about giftorättsgods, enskild egendom and what a surviving spouse actually keeps. Family property
Deadlines after a death
An estate inventory, a will to be served and a claim period can all run at the same time, and the Swedish timetables are short and unforgiving. Timing
How we help
Matching you with the right Swedish lawyer
One short request is usually enough for us to identify a suitable specialist.
Specialists, not generalists
We route succession, family property and estate administration matters to lawyers who work in that field, so the first conversation starts at the right level of detail.
Clear on fees before you commit
You receive information on how the lawyer charges and whether state legal aid (rättshjälp) might apply, so you can decide with a realistic view of cost.
Cross-border situations handled
If the estate includes property, accounts or heirs outside Sweden, we look for a lawyer used to coordinating with advisers in more than one country.
One request, several options
You describe the situation once. We compare it against our network and come back with lawyers whose practice actually covers your issue.
Also available in
Estate planning help across Europe
We work with specialised lawyers in the following countries, each applying their own national succession rules.
Frequently asked
Questions about estate planning in Sweden
Do I need an estate planning lawyer in Sweden if there is no inheritance tax?
Because Sweden abolished inheritance and gift tax at the end of 2004, tax is rarely the reason to seek advice. An estate planning lawyer in Sweden is usually instructed for other reasons: protecting a surviving spouse’s position, checking whether a will respects the laglott, declaring enskild egendom, arranging business succession, or handling assets located abroad.
Can I disinherit a child in Sweden?
Only partly. A direct heir such as a child or grandchild is always entitled to their reserved portion (laglott), equal to half of their statutory share of the estate, and this cannot be removed by a will. A will may still decide what happens to the remaining half. A heir must claim the laglott within six months of being served with the will.
How long do I have to challenge a will in Sweden?
Where the claim concerns the reserved portion (laglott), the heir must act within six months of being served with the will. That period is short, so it is worth having the will reviewed as soon as you receive it, while valuations and family documents can still be gathered.
What is a bouppteckning and when must it be filed?
A bouppteckning is the Swedish estate inventory. It lists the deceased person’s assets, debts and the heirs, and generally must be prepared within three months of the death, with registration following within one month afterwards. It forms the basis for dividing the estate and for any later claim by an heir.
Does marriage change what happens to my estate in Sweden?
Yes. The default regime is joint marital property (giftorättsgods), divided equally on divorce or on death unless property has been declared separate (enskild egendom) in writing. A surviving spouse also has a minimum base amount rule, keeping at least four base amounts. A marriage settlement or will is needed to alter that default.
How much does legal help cost, and can I get legal aid?
State legal aid (rättshjälp) is generally available to individuals whose income and assets do not exceed SEK 260,000 per year. Advice under the Legal Aid Act is charged at a fixed state-subsidised rate of SEK 2,032.50 per hour in 2026, reduced for lower incomes. Many succession matters fall outside legal aid, so ask for a written estimate. Matching through us is free.
Next step
Speak to a Swedish estate planning lawyer
Tell us briefly what you are planning or what has happened, and we will match you with a lawyer whose practice covers Swedish succession, family property and estate administration. No cost, no obligation, and you decide whether to instruct.