Disinheritance by will in Italy
The will, an act of last will, allows planning the destination of one’s patrimony after death. In Italy, inheritance law is regulated by the Codice Civile, which balances testamentary freedom with the protection of forced heirs, to whom the law recognises an inderogable inheritance share, namely the spouse, the children and the ascendants.
Sometimes, testamentary provisions can generate conflicts among heirs, especially when they deviate from the expectations of forced heirs. Disinheritance, a controversial institution but admitted by Italian case law, allows the testator to exclude an heir from the succession. Such clause, although valid for non-forced heirs, cannot harm the rights of forced heirs. In case of harm to the share of forced heirship, the harmed heirs can contest the will to obtain the reduction of testamentary provisions and the restoration of the share due to them.
With consolidated experience in the field of international inheritance law, Boschetti Studio Legale provides qualified advice both for the drafting of disinheritance clauses compliant with the law, and for the protection of inheritance rights of those who have been excluded from the inheritance. Our team of professionals is committed to ensuring the full validity of testamentary provisions and to assisting forced heirs in obtaining the share of forced heirship due to them according to the regulation in force.
Disinheritance clause
Disinheritance is a testamentary clause through which the testator expressly excludes a subject from their succession, whether legitimate or testamentary. Although not expressly provided for by the Codice Civile, Italian case law has admitted its insertion in a will, provided that it does not compromise the rights of forced heirs. Indeed, it is appropriate to specify that, should a forced heir be disinherited, they can contest the will and, with the successful exercise of the action of reduction, obtain the recognition of their reserved share.
In the past, it was held that the will could contain only patrimonial provisions, attributing assets with economic value. Disinheritance, not providing for a direct attribution, was considered inadmissible. However, notarial practice has circumvented this obstacle through “indirect disinheritance”, attributing the entire patrimony to other subjects.
Subsequent case law evolution has recognised that disinheritance produces indirect dispositive effects, modifying the distribution of the patrimony among the other heirs. The Corte di Cassazione has clarified that disinheritance, although having a negative content, can imply an institutive will towards the non-excluded heirs. Sentence n. 8352 of 2012 confirmed the validity of disinheritance even when it constitutes the sole content of the will, recognising it as a dispositive deed that regulates succession relationships.
Sentence n. 26062 of 17/10/2018 clarifies that the disinheritance clause has personal effect and does not extend automatically to the entire bloodline of the excluded subject. Sentence n. 8352 of 25/05/2012, instead, confirms the validity of the disinheritance clause as an instrument to regulate post mortem patrimonial relationships. Disinheritance, although having a negative content, can imply an indirect dispositive will in favour of the non-excluded heirs.
A particularly debated aspect concerns the relationship between disinheritance and legitimate succession. According to the prevailing orientation, disinheritance prevents the excluded subject from succeeding not only by will, but also by law. This interpretation is based on the principle whereby testamentary will prevails over legitimate succession, which operates only in the absence of testamentary provisions or for the part not disposed of.
The disinheritance clause must be explicit and unequivocal, clearly manifesting the testator’s will to exclude a particular subject. But, as we have seen before, it can also be implicit, if deducible from other testamentary provisions suitable to exclude certain heirs from the succession.
Boschetti Studio Legale, expert in international inheritance law, offers specialised assistance to those who wish to insert a disinheritance clause in their will, ensuring its validity and respect for the regulation in force. We also assist those who have been unjustly disinherited, protecting their rights and helping them to obtain the share of forced heirship due.
Contact us for personalised advice and for an assessment of your specific case.
Can forced heirs be disinherited?
A frequent question in succession matters concerns the possibility of providing for the disinheritance of forced heirs, that is to say of those subjects (spouse, children and ascendants) to whom Italian law reserves an inderogable share of the inheritance patrimony. In particular, one wonders whether the disinheritance of the child is admitted.
The answer to this question, although having been the subject of debate in doctrine and case law, is negative. Disinheriting a relative is possible, but disinheritance cannot harm the rights reserved by law to forced heirs.
In Italian inheritance law, the protection of the share of forced heirship represents a fundamental principle, aimed at ensuring minimum protection to forced heirs. Although the testator can freely dispose of only the available share, it is not excluded that a testamentary clause may attempt to compress or exclude the rights of forced heirs, as in the case of a disinheritance clause.
This is because such provisions would not definitively prejudice the rights of forced heirs, since the law nevertheless provides that they can exercise the action of reduction to assert their right to the reserved share and obtain the restoration of the succession proportions imposed by law.
However, the case law of the Corte di Cassazione has repeatedly confirmed the invalidity of disinheritance of forced heirs, underlining the need to ensure the reserved share provided for by law. Among the most recent merits pronouncements, sentence n. 1335/2021 of the Tribunale di Pavia can be cited, which reaffirms this principle, stating that a disinheritance clause directed at a forced heir is inadmissible.
If the testator attempts to disinherit a forced heir, the latter has the right to act in reduction to obtain the reintegration of their share. The action of reduction allows contesting the will and restoring the correct division of the inheritance patrimony, ensuring the forced heir the share due to them by law.
Boschetti Studio Legale, expert in international inheritance law, offers specialised assistance to those who wish to plan their succession in compliance with the rights of forced heirs, and need a lawyer to obtain guarantees on the validity of the will and not to incur the risk of future inheritance disputes.
We also assist those who consider themselves harmed in their rights as forced heirs, providing advice and legal support for the action of reduction. Contact us for personalised advice and to protect your interests in succession matters.
Difference between disinheritance and unworthiness
Unworthiness to succeed is configured as a civil sanction that excludes an heir from the succession for having committed serious and unlawful behaviours, listed exhaustively in article 463 of the codice civile. These behaviours, often of a criminal nature, qualify the individual as not deserving to benefit from the inheritance patrimony.
Unlike testamentary disinheritance, where it is the testator who voluntarily excludes a subject, unworthiness is a measure established by law. The unworthy person can be called to the inheritance, but cannot retain it; this requires a judicial declaration that formalises the exclusion.
Among the behaviours considered unworthy fall acts such as the homicide or attempted homicide of the de cuius or of their family members, serious slander, falsification of the will or wilful impediment to the testamentary will of the deceased. These acts are divided into two main categories: those that compromise the physical or moral integrity of the deceased and those aimed at manipulating the distribution of the patrimony.
For unworthiness to produce effects, a judicial proceeding initiated by the subjects who could benefit from the succession in substitution of the unworthy person is necessary. The constitutive sentence has retroactive effect, obliging the unworthy person to return any inheritance assets and fruits received. Acts of ordinary administration carried out by the unworthy person before the pronouncement remain valid, while those of extraordinary administration may lose effectiveness if gratuitous, or be validated if the third-party contractor acted in good faith.
A particular case concerns parents declared unworthy. The law provides that these cannot exercise usufruct and administration on the assets inherited by their children, to avoid an indirect advantage. In such situations, a curator is appointed to manage the patrimony.
Typical scenarios / Case studies
The typical scenarios have been developed by combining the most significant family law situations that our firm regularly handles, creating structured and realistic examples designed to help readers better understand and navigate their own legal matters. The case studies, on the other hand, are based on real cases handled by our firm, with all personal data and identifying details anonymised to protect client confidentiality.
Registering a cohabitation agreement and regularising the status of a foreign partner
A couple living in Rome, consisting of an Italian citizen and his foreign partner without valid residence documents, sought legal protection for their relationship. An urgent application under Article 700 of the Italian Code of Civil Procedure was filed to safeguard their cohabitation, followed by proceedings to obtain an EU family member residence card.
Adult adoption to legally recognise a de facto family relationship
A United States citizen living in Rome sought to formalise a long standing family relationship with his uncle by marriage through adult adoption. Proceedings were brought under Articles 291 et seq. of the Italian Civil Code to obtain legal recognition of their established family bond.
Cohabitation agreement for an Italian Brazilian couple: protecting assets and securing residence rights
An Italian entrepreneur and his Brazilian partner had been living together in Milan for three years. Their situation involved three interconnected legal vulnerabilities relating to immigration, asset protection and succession planning, all addressed through a coordinated legal strategy.
Adoption in Colombia: an Italian couple fulfils their dream after a three year journey
A couple married for eight years embarked on an international adoption in Colombia. The procedure involved two legal systems, three Italian institutions and the Colombian Central Authority, requiring careful coordination throughout every stage of the process.
Succession involving heirs in four different countries: coordinated management across Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland
An Italian entrepreneur left assets located in Italy, the United States and Switzerland, with four heirs residing in four different countries. The matter required the parallel coordination of four legal systems and four tax regimes.
Adult adoption of a partner’s child: legal recognition of a twenty year family bond
A fifty eight year old man seeks to adopt his wife’s thirty year old son, whom he has helped raise for twenty years. Although the relationship was genuine and long established, it had no formal legal recognition, with significant implications for the biological children’s inheritance rights.
Challenging a will for infringement of forced heirship rights: €800,000 recovered for the heirs
Two children inherited only €20,000 each under a will that left almost the entire estate to their late father’s second wife. An action to enforce their forced heirship rights was successfully resolved through mediation.
Succession planning for a family business: transferring a €3 million business to the next generation
A sixty two year old entrepreneur needed to transfer ownership of a company employing fifty people to the son who had been managing the business, while safeguarding the interests of his daughter, who had chosen a different career path. A family agreement and a holding structure ensured business continuity and long term stability.
International adoption by a single parent: when the law opens a path few people know exists
A forty five year old single woman embarked on an international adoption. Although legally possible, this route remains little known and requires a carefully planned legal strategy from the very first stage, beginning with the application for the certificate of suitability.
Digital inheritance: recovering cryptocurrencies and digital assets after death
A professional passed away leaving more than €600,000 in cryptocurrencies held across multiple wallets and exchanges, without providing any access instructions. A substantial digital estate was at risk of being lost forever.
Legal name change for a transgender person: aligning official documents with gender identity
A thirty two year old professional, who had been undergoing hormone therapy for eight years, still had official documents bearing the male name assigned at birth. This discrepancy repeatedly forced unwanted disclosure of her gender identity in professional, banking and administrative settings.
Legal gender recognition and the update of more than 20 official documents: from court judgment to a new legal identity
A forty five year old executive had already obtained a court order granting legal gender recognition but was then faced with the real challenge: coordinating the update of an identity card, driving licence, university degree, employment records, mortgage documentation and insurance policies across multiple authorities, each with different procedures.
Legal advice for disinheritance in the will of the child or of a relative
Disinheritance, as we have seen, is a complex act that requires careful assessment, especially in an international context. The complex family dynamics and differences between legal systems can make the disinheritance of a child or a relative in favour of foreigners a delicate process rich in nuances.
In these cases, it is fundamental to turn to a professional experienced in international inheritance law. Boschetti Studio Legale offers specialised assistance in matters of disinheritance also in international contexts, with particular attention to:
- Verification of the validity of the disinheritance: we assess the legitimacy of the disinheritance clause in light of the law applicable to the specific case, considering the nationality of the testator, of the heirs and the situation of the assets.
- Protection of the rights of forced heirs: in case of disinheritance of a child or a forced heir relative, we analyse Italian and international regulation to ensure respect for the share of forced heirship.
- Drafting of an international will: we assist in the drafting of a will valid in all the Countries involved, in full respect of the wishes of the testator and of the applicable regulations.
- Resolution of inheritance disputes: we offer advice and legal support for the resolution of disputes linked to disinheritance, both extrajudicially and judicially.
If you wish to disinherit a child or a relative in favour of a foreigner, or if you consider yourself unjustly excluded from a will, contact Boschetti Studio Legale for personalised advice. Our team of experts will guide you through the complex legal procedures, protecting your interests and ensuring the correct application of the law.
Relying on a law firm for international inheritance law is the best choice to ensure the validity of the will and prevent future inheritance disputes.
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How does disinheritance work?
Disinheritance is an act through which a person, by means of the will, decides to exclude a subject from their inheritance. To be valid, disinheritance can be explicit and unequivocal, clearly indicating who is excluded and for what reason, or it can result implicitly, as a consequence of the testamentary provisions.
How to exclude a child from the inheritance?
Excluding a child from the inheritance, being a forced heir (as in the case of children, spouse and parents), is not possible in Italy. The law protects these subjects with a minimum share of the inheritance called "share of forced heirship". It is possible to exclude a child only from the available share of the patrimony, but not from their share of forced heirship.
How to be disinherited?
There is no way to "be disinherited". The decision to disinherit someone belongs solely to the person who makes the will.
How to exclude a legitimate heir from the will?
Excluding a legitimate heir, that is to say a subject called to the inheritance in the absence of a will, is possible by drafting a will in which one disposes of one's patrimony in favour of other subjects. Therefore, the testator can freely decide to exclude legitimate heirs from the succession, except in case of forced heirs to be protected with the reserved share.
When can a child be excluded from the will?
A child can be excluded from the will only as regards the share of patrimony exceeding their share of forced heirship. The share of forced heirship is a minimum share of the inheritance that the law reserves to children, spouse and parents and cannot be affected.
