Estate planning while you are alive
Arrange your assets today, not the dispute tomorrow
Most inheritance disputes do not start over money — they start over lack of clarity. A written, precise and clear will is one of the most effective ways to reflect your wishes and reduce the chance that the court, rather than you, decides how what you built is divided.
Where the absence of a will proves costly
Many of the hardest disputes are not about large estates, but about a wish that was never written down or was only spoken, without precise legal drafting. Here are three common situations an orderly will is meant to address.
The complex family
A second marriage, children from a prior relationship and a current spouse — without a will, the law divides by a fixed formula that often does not reflect what the family actually intended.
"Dad always said it was mine"
A spoken promise is not a legal document. Without a written, duly signed instrument, conflicting versions among siblings can turn into a dispute lasting years.
The family business
Without a clear business-succession arrangement, the heirs’ partnership in the business itself can become the main arena of conflict — sometimes harming the entire business.
Full legal support at every stage
From the initial drafting to registering the probate order — professional, personal and precise handling.
Drafting wills
Drafting a personally tailored will, including sub-scenarios (who inherits if a given heir predeceases the testator), to reduce room for interpretation.
Succession and probate orders
Filing applications with the Registrar of Inheritance, handling objections, and representation before the Family Courts in contested matters.
Prenups and complex families
Adapting the structure of the will to families with second marriages, children from prior relationships and common-law partners.
Durable power of attorney
Arranging who will make medical, personal and financial decisions for you if and when you cannot make them yourself — before it is needed.
Business succession
Arranging the continuity of ownership in the family business — who manages, who owns, and how to reduce the risk that the business itself becomes the subject of conflict.
A child with special needs
Trust and guardianship mechanisms intended to support ongoing care and financial provision for a loved one who cannot manage their own affairs.
From a first meeting to a registered document
- 01
Consultation
Mapping your family situation, assets and wishes — with no obligation.
- 02
Forming a strategy
Building a legal structure that fits your situation — including sub-scenarios.
- 03
Drafting
The lawyer drafts the full document and sends it for your review and comments.
- 04
Signing and validation
Signing before witnesses or a notary, as required by law.
- 05
Deposit and registration
Depositing the will in a safe place and registering it, so it is found at the right time.
A general overview of the process only; the formal requirements for a valid will are set by the Succession Law and vary by circumstances and subject to legal review.
“A good will is written from calm, not from crisis — our role is to prevent the day heirs sit across from one another in a courtroom.”
Frequently asked questions
I am in a second marriage with children from a prior relationship — why does it matter?
Without a will, the current spouse and the children from the prior relationship may become co-heirs in the same property — sometimes including the shared apartment. This is a common source of inheritance disputes in complex families, and it can be significantly reduced with a well-drafted will.
I have a common-law partner without marriage — are there inheritance rights?
As a rule, a common-law partner may be recognized as an heir under the law, subject to conditions, and sometimes on a different division than a married couple. A written will greatly reduces the uncertainty about status and division.
One of my parents passed away and the other is alive — are they my only heir?
Not necessarily. Absent a will, the share of the deceased parent may pass to siblings as well, not only to the surviving parent — a point that surprises many families. This is exactly the kind of detail an orderly will clarifies in advance.
I want to exclude one child from the will — is it possible and what is the risk?
A will can disinherit an heir, but imprecise drafting may open the door to claims such as "undue influence" or lack of capacity at signing. Professional drafting, sometimes with appropriate documentation, is what helps a will withstand the court’s scrutiny.
I have a family business — is a regular will enough?
Usually not. A business requires a dedicated succession arrangement that separates ownership from management, sets a decision mechanism among heir-partners, and reduces the risk of the business stalling due to a dispute among heirs.
What is the difference between a will and a durable power of attorney?
A will applies only after death. A durable power of attorney applies while you are still alive, if and when you cannot make decisions yourself — for example due to illness. It is usually advisable to arrange both in the same process.
⚖️ Disclaimer: The information on this page is general only and does not constitute legal advice or a substitute for individual counsel, and does not create an attorney–client relationship. A binding will meets the formal requirements of the Succession Law and is drafted by the handling lawyer according to the circumstances of the case.
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