Owning a property means that it will become part of your estate once you die. The rules for inheriting a property located in Portugal are different then from them in the UK.
In general, we can advise you on the various different options regarding your Portuguese Will. It is possible to have two wills – one in Portugal covering your Portuguese assets and one in the UK covering your other assets. Both Wills need to be drafted carefully to make sure that they do not revoke each other.
Can you just leave a UK Will for Portuguese property?
You can leave your assets in Portugal to somebody with a UK Will, but this doesn’t make sense – the cost of the subsequent inheritance will be more and it is possible that you will inadvertently cause inheritance tax problems.
What happens if you don’t make a Will?
The cost and extra complications of leaving no Will at all is great and should be avoided.
Do you need to follow Portuguese inheritance law as a foreigner?
Whilst as a foreigner you do not have to follow the same rules that Portuguese people do in terms of who you have to leave your property to, it often makes sense to do so as this can save your beneficiaries huge amounts in tax.
Do you need to make a Portuguese Will in Portugal?
A Portuguese Will can be prepared and signed in your local area or in our offices – there is no need to go to Portugal. We can arrange for the registration of your Will at the Central Wills Registry in Lisbon.
The Portuguese Will can be signed in the UK or in Portugal. To find out more, please take a look at our guide to foreign Wills.
Need help with a Will for property in Portugal?
Our UK-based team of property lawyers are highly experienced in helping clients who own property in Portugal to make appropriate Wills for their Portuguese assets.
With a thorough understanding of both UK and Portuguese law, we can provide clear, reliable legal guidance in plain English, giving you the confidence to deal effectively with inheritance issues for property in Portugal.
Call: 01438 840 258 Email: admin@judicaregroup.com