Inheritance, gifts and estate planning
Legal help with inheritance and estate matters
When someone close to you dies, questions may arise about who is entitled to inherit, how a will should be interpreted, and how the estate should be handled. Our lawyers help you understand your rights under Swedish law and resolve inheritance disputes.
- Response within one business day
- Experienced lawyers
- Online, wherever you are
Who is entitled to inherit?
If there is no will, the estate is distributed according to the statutory order of inheritance. Children and their descendants are first in line. If there are no heirs in that group, the estate passes to the next eligible group of relatives.
A surviving spouse generally inherits before the couple’s children together. Children from a previous relationship generally have the right to receive their inheritance immediately.
Unmarried partners do not automatically inherit from each other. A person who wants their partner to inherit will therefore normally need a will. The distribution may also be affected by a division of marital property, a prenuptial agreement, previous gifts, or assets located in another country.
From the estate inventory to distribution
After a death, the estate’s assets, debts, and beneficiaries must be identified. The process generally includes the following steps:
- identifying the estate beneficiaries and anyone named in a will
- preparing an estate inventory and submitting it to the Swedish Tax Agency
- paying the estate’s debts or reserving funds for them
- distributing the remaining assets among the beneficiaries
The estate inventory must normally be completed within three months and submitted to the Swedish Tax Agency within four months of the death. The beneficiaries may then distribute the estate through a written agreement.
If the beneficiaries disagree, administering the estate may become complicated. A lawyer helps clarify the parties’ rights, communicate with the beneficiaries, and assess the appropriate legal action.
Wills and the reserved share
A will may change how an estate would otherwise be distributed. To be valid, the will must meet specific formal requirements.
Children are entitled to a reserved share, known in Swedish as a laglott. It equals half of the inheritance the child would have received without a will. If a will infringes on this right, the child must request an adjustment within six months of receiving formal notice of the will.
Questions may also arise about the meaning of a will, the deceased person’s decision-making capacity, or possible undue influence. Our lawyers help you interpret the document and assess whether there are grounds to challenge or defend it.
How we can help you
Inheritance matters may involve both estate administration and legal conflict. We tailor our assistance to the estate and the family’s circumstances.
Guidance on inheritance rights
We review the statutory order of inheritance and help you understand who is entitled to inherit and what share may apply.
Wills and reserved shares
We help interpret wills and assess questions involving reserved shares, adjustments, and the validity of a will.
Estate administration
We help estate beneficiaries address legal issues involving the estate inventory, administration, and distribution.
Inheritance disputes
If the beneficiaries disagree, we represent you in negotiations and legal proceedings involving the estate.
Get help with inheritance
Schedule a 15-minute meeting with a lawyer to review and discuss your situation.
If you need further assistance, we’ll explain your options, how we can assist you, and what it would cost. If you hire us for your case, the cost of the first 15 minutes will be deducted from your final bill.
Talk to a lawyer
15-minute legal consultation
A brief meeting for quick guidance. Get answers to your questions, understand your rights and options, and learn how to move forward.
Need more help? You can also schedule a longer meeting with a lawyer for assistance with a specific task or a more complex situation.
Concerned about the cost? In some cases, part of the cost may be covered by legal expenses insurance or legal aid. We also offer payment plans through Klarna. Learn more about costs and financing →
Get help from our lawyers
Meet with one of our lawyers when you need guidance on inheritance rights, assistance with an estate, or representation in an inheritance dispute.
Matilda Selander Persson
Lawyer
Matilda primarily works with employment law, business law, contract law, family law, and migration law. She speaks Swedish and English.
Wazima M. Aga
Lawyer
Wazima is deeply committed to protecting individual rights and practices immigration law, administrative law, social welfare law, family law, and contract law. She speaks Swedish, English, Persian, and Dari.
Aja Wadii
Lawyer
Aja specializes in migration law, family law, and criminal law. In addition to Swedish and English, Aja also speaks Arabic.
Farid Laghrissi
Lawyer
Farid assists individuals and businesses with employment law, tenancy law, financial family law, contracts, disputes, and other business and corporate law matters. Farid speaks Swedish, English, Arabic, Darija, and French.
Nadja Hatem
Lawyer
Nadja works within family law – mainly custody disputes and international child abduction cases. She has also worked in criminal law. She speaks Swedish, English, and Arabic.
Anuta Sjunghamn
Lawyer
Anuta works in migration law – primarily handling asylum cases. She also assists with family law disputes and criminal cases. Anuta speaks Swedish, English and Persian.
Aleksandar Milic
Consulting lawyer
Aleksandar Milic specializes in business law and family law and also serves as legal counsel in LVU cases. He speaks Swedish, Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian.
Mirella Nunes Siqueira
Consulting lawyer
Mirella specializes in business law, financial family law, employment law, and consumer law. She speaks Swedish, English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about inheritance
The estate is distributed according to the statutory order of inheritance. Children inherit first. If there are no children, the estate passes to other eligible relatives.
A child is entitled to a reserved share. A will therefore generally cannot completely disinherit a child if the child requests an adjustment within the required time.
No. Unmarried partners do not automatically inherit from each other. They will normally need a will if they want the surviving partner to receive an inheritance.
Sweden does not impose an inheritance tax. Other tax consequences may arise if inherited property is later sold or if the estate includes assets in another country.
Let a lawyer contact you
Tell us briefly about your situation, and we’ll get back to you within one business day to schedule a video consultation.