When someone close to you dies, probate proceedings follow alongside the grief, and they raise questions that are hard to answer alone. Clients come to us when they are unsure whether to accept or disclaim an inheritance, when a will has left them out, when siblings cannot agree on how to divide the estate, or when they want to decide in advance who will inherit from them. We also handle estates that include property, a stake in a company, debts or assets abroad.
We start by establishing who the heirs are, what the estate contains and what debts it carries, and we calculate each statutory and testamentary claim. Then we propose a route: an agreement between the heirs, a claim to the forced share, a limitation of liability by inventory, or court proceedings. Under Slovak law, probate is run by a notary acting as a court commissioner, and we represent you before the notary. If a disputed issue is referred to the court, we continue there.
We act for heirs, surviving spouses and people who want to prepare a will or a disinheritance deed that will hold up if challenged. Our office is at Národná 15 in Žilina and we represent clients in inheritance matters anywhere in Slovakia. You can meet us in person or online, which suits heirs who live far from the court or outside Slovakia. We work in Slovak, Czech and English.
We go through the family situation, the will if there is one, and what you know about the assets and debts. We explain your options and what the next steps will cost.
We identify the heirs and their shares, check lifetime gifts that count towards the forced share, and prepare filings or a draft agreement between the heirs.
We deal with the notary on your behalf, attend the hearing and, if the will or the circle of heirs is disputed, continue before the court. We keep you informed at each step.
Once the inheritance decision is final, we check that it can be used to register ownership in the Land Register. We invoice our work as agreed at the outset.
An inheritance can be disclaimed within one month from the day the court (notary) informed you of this right (Section 463 of the Slovak Civil Code). You can only disclaim the whole inheritance, not just the debts.
Minor descendants are entitled to at least their full statutory share, adult descendants to at least half of it (Section 479 of the Civil Code). The claim must be raised expressly in the proceedings; the notary will not raise it for you.
An heir who accepts the inheritance is liable for the deceased's debts only up to the value of what they inherited (Section 470 of the Civil Code).
Slovakia abolished inheritance tax on 1 January 2004. The notary acting as court commissioner charges a fee based on the net value of the estate after debts.
Articles are in Slovak.
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In a consultation we assess your situation, suggest a way forward and tell you what costs to expect.
€90 incl. VAT, 30 minutes, in person or online
This page is for general information, reflects Slovak law at the time of writing and is not a substitute for advice on your particular matter.
