Legal: Inheritance law news in Portugal

Parliament has passed legislation designed to unlock thousands of inherited properties currently tied up in family disputes. The new law enables a single heir to force the sale of a property, a move intended to increase the housing supply and resolve long-standing legal impasses.

A government proposal to reform the management of undivided inheritances (heranças indivisas) has been approved in committee. The new rules allow a single heir, a surviving spouse, or an executor to unlock the sale of inherited properties, aiming to reduce legal delays.

The government aims to unlock the sale of undivided inheritances (heranças indivisas) to help reduce the number of vacant properties across the country. A new legal regime is being proposed that would allow a single heir to force the sale of inherited real estate, a move that the High Council of the Magistracy (Conselho Superior da Magistratura) warns could increase litigation.

The government has submitted a legislative proposal to Parliament aimed at resolving issues with undivided inheritances (heranças indivisas). If approved, the law would allow a single heir, a spouse married under a community of property regime, or an executor to unlock the sale of inherited properties. The initiative is part of a broader effort to increase housing supply in the market.

A new government proposal aims to reform inheritance laws by strengthening the power of testators to define how their assets are divided among heirs. The change would allow individuals to specify which specific properties or assets go to which heirs within the legitimate portion (legítima), a restriction that currently limits estate planning. Property owners should note that the reform also seeks to reduce the number of undivided inheritances (heranças indivisas) that often lead to legal deadlocks.