Compulsory Heirs: who they are and what rights they have

The death of a family member brings not only intense emotions, but also important legal matters. Among these, one of the most relevant concerns the forced heirs, that is to say, those who have a guaranteed right to inheritance, even if the deceased left a will with other provisions.

The figure of the compulsory heir is provided for by law to protect the closest family ties. These heirs cannot be excluded from the inheritance, except in exceptional circumstances provided for in the Civil Code. But who are the compulsory heirs? What part of the inheritance do they belong to? And what can be done if the compulsory share is not respected?

In this article, we explain in detail who forced heirs are, what the legitimate portion is, how it is calculated, and how one Solicitor in divisions and inheritances can help ensure that your rights or those of your family members are fully respected.

Legitimate heirs

Os forced heirs direct relatives of the deceased, to whom the law reserves a portion of the inheritance, regardless of their wishes expressed in a will. This protected portion is called the legitimate, and it is guaranteed even when the deceased attempts to dispose of their estate otherwise.

According to the article 2157 of the Civil Code English (UK), are forced heirs:

• Children and other descendants (grandchildren, great-grandchildren)

• The surviving spouse

• Parents and other ascendants (when there are no descendants)

In other words, the law prioritises the deceased's closest direct family, preventing this connection from being ignored when transferring assets.

A quota legítima é a parte da herança que a lei reserva aos herdeiros legitimários, à qual o testador não pode dispor.

A parte da herança reservada aos herdeiros legitimários chama-se a legítima. legitimate. The remaining assets constitute the available quota, which may be freely assigned to other persons or institutions, by will or during lifetime gifts.

The percentage of the legal share depends on the number and type of forced heirs. The law establishes the following cases:

• If there are only descendants (children or grandchildren), The legitimate portion corresponds to half of the inheritance

• If there are descendants and a spouse, The legitimate share is also half, divided between both.

• If there is only a spouse and ascendants, The legal portion is two-thirds of the inheritance

• If there is only a spouse, The legitimate one is half.

• If there are only ascendants, The legitimate one is one-third

The remaining portion, called the available quota, can be left to other children, favoured grandchildren, friends, godchildren or religious and social entities.

What happens if the rightful share is violated?

When a will or a lifetime gift prejudices the legitimate portion of forced heirs, they have the right to take legal action. The main options are:

• Reduction of testamentary provisionsThe will can be reduced to the limit of the disposable portion.

• Claim for restitutionThe heirs can demand the return of excessively donated assets or values.

• Challenge to the will: in cases of fraud, duress, or material error

Breach of the reserved portion is one of the main causes of conflict between heirs and can lead to lengthy legal proceedings. For this reason, it is essential that any will or gift be analysed beforehand by a Solicitor in divisions and inheritances, to ensure the law is being complied with and that the rights of the forced heirs are safeguarded.

What is the collation of assets?

Collations are an important concept relating to compulsory heirs. It concerns the obligation to include in the calculation of the inheritance assets received by an heir during their lifetime, by way of donation.

For example, if one of the children received a house while the father was still alive, that property must be brought to account in the inheritance, meaning it should be considered when calculating the share to which they are entitled. This way, the other heirs are not disadvantaged.

Collations apply only between forced heirs, and can be waived if the donor expressly declares it.

Can a mandatory heir be disinherited?

Yes, but only in exceptional cases, and based on very concrete legal grounds. Disinheritance must be expressly declared in a will and is only valid if:

• If the heir had attempted against the life, honour or liberty of the person making the inheritance

• Having committed serious physical offences against him or his spouse

• Having gravely failed in legally prescribed duties of assistance

These grounds are provided for in Article 2166 of the Civil Code. Disinheritance can be challenged in court, and it is common for a forced heir to go to court to try to reverse their exclusion from the inheritance.

Once again, the intervention of a lawyer in divisions and inheritances is essential in these cases, to legally substantiate or contest the grounds for disinheritance.

O advogado desempenha um papel crucial na defesa dos direitos dos herdeiros legitimários. Estes herdeiros, também conhecidos como herdeiros necessários, são aqueles que, por lei, têm direito a uma quota da herança (a quota legítima), independentemente da vontade do testador. O papel do advogado abrange várias vertentes: 1. **Aconselhamento Jurídico:** O advogado explica aos herdeiros quais são os seus direitos em relação à herança, definindo o que constitui a quota legítima e como esta é calculada com base na lei aplicável. 2. **Inventário e Partilha:** O advogado auxilia na elaboração do inventário, que é o processo de listar todos os bens e dívidas deixados pelo falecido. Ele garante que este processo seja conduzido de forma correcta e que todos os bens sejam devidamente avaliados. No processo de partilha, o advogado assegura que a quota legítima de cada herdeiro seja respeitada, contestando ou corrigindo quaisquer irregularidades. 3. **Interpretação do Testamento:** Se existir um testamento, o advogado ajuda os herdeiros a compreenderem as suas disposições e a verificar se estas cumprem os requisitos legais. Ele pode contestar cláusulas testamentárias que violem a quota legítima ou outras disposições legais. 4. **Defesa dos Direitos:** Caso os direitos dos herdeiros legitimários sejam violados (por exemplo, se o testador deixou a sua quota disponível a terceiros, prejudicando a legítima, ou se um dos herdeiros está retendo bens indevidamente), o advogado pode intervir em ações judiciais para proteger e defender esses direitos. Isso pode incluir ações de redução de liberalidades (para tornar ineficazes doações ou legados que prejudicam a legítima) ou ações de petição de herança. 5. **Mediação e Negociação:** Em muitos casos, o advogado pode atuar como mediador ou negociador entre os herdeiros para alcançar um acordo amigável sobre a partilha dos bens, evitando litígios longos e dispendiosos. 6. **Cumprimento de Formalidades:** O advogado garante que todos os procedimentos legais e fiscais associados à herança sejam cumpridos atempadamente, como o pagamento de impostos (Imposto do Selo ou Imposto sobre Sucessões e Doações, dependendo da jurisdição) e o registo de bens. Em suma, o advogado é o guardião legal dos herdeiros legitimários, assegurando que estes recebam a parte da herança a que têm direito por lei, e que todo o processo sucessório decorra de forma justa e em conformidade com a legislação vigente.

A lawyer's role in estate divisions and inheritances is crucial to ensure that the rights of legal heirs are respected. The lawyer can:

• Check if the will respects the legal share

• Calculate the legitimate share for each heir

• Analyse lifetime gifts and determine if they should be collated

• Prepare legal actions to defend or contest inheritance rights

• Representing heirs in probate or inheritance proceedings

• Negotiate agreements between conflicting parties

Furthermore, the lawyer ensures that all documentation is correctly submitted to the tax and property registration authorities, avoiding errors or delays in the processing of the inheritance.

Legitimate heirs and wills: what you need to know

It is possible to make a will even if there are legitimate heirs, as long as the compulsory share (quota da legítima) is respected. The law only permits free disposal of the disposable part of the inheritance.

If you wish to benefit a forced heir beyond their legal share, you can do so through a will, but this benefit depends on express and clear acceptance. The same applies to donations, which must be carefully analysed to avoid prejudicing other heirs.

When drafting or interpreting a will, it is strongly recommended to seek the advice of a lawyer specializing in probate and inheritance, to avoid errors with legal and financial repercussions.

Conclusion

Os forced heirs have rights protected by Portuguese law and cannot be arbitrarily disinherited. The legitim is a legal safeguard that ensures fairness in the transmission of family assets, especially in situations where a will or lifetime gifts could cause inequality.

Understanding who the legitimate heirs are, how much they are owed, and how the law protects them is essential for any inheritance process, whether you are an heir, testator, or legal representative.

To count on the support of a Solicitor in divisions and inheritances it is the best way to ensure that rights are respected and that the process proceeds fairly, safely, and legally.

If you are involved in a probate process and have doubts about your position or that of the other heirs, do not delay. Get informed, seek legal advice and defend your rights based on the law.