Notes for international buyers
Thinking Ahead: Inheritance Laws in Portugal
It is not a pleasant topic, but if you own assets in Portugal, you need to understand how Inheritance Law works here. It might be very different from your home country.
"FORCED HEIRSHIP": Unlike in the UK or USA, where you have total freedom to leave your assets to anyone, Portuguese law protects immediate family. A portion of your estate (Quotas Legítimas) is automatically reserved for your spouse and children.
THE "BRUSSELS IV" REGULATION: The good news for expats: You can choose for the law of your nationality to apply to your succession, overriding the Portuguese rules. But you must express this choice clearly.
WHY YOU NEED A PORTUGUESE WILL: Even if you have a Will back home, dealing with Portuguese bureaucracy using a foreign document is expensive and slow (requires translations and court stamps). We strongly advise signing a separate Portuguese Will just for your assets here. It is quick, cheap, and saves your family months of headaches.
Written on the date shown. The law and tax figures may have changed since. This article is general information, not advice on your particular case. For questions: info@pedrotabuada.com · +351 923 337 076.