Inheritance representation in Italy
Inheritance is a complex topic, and one of the lesser known aspects is succession by representation. Understanding this concept can make the difference between a peaceful succession and a complicated legal dispute. Boschetti Studio Legale can help to clarify these aspects, offering specific advice to avoid possible disputes.
Representation is a legal mechanism that establishes the distribution of the inheritance when the original heir cannot or chooses not to accept it. In such case, their descendants take their place, ensuring that the inheritance remains within the family. Our law firm provides assistance to correctly manage the succession, also protecting the rights of every heir by representation.
It is preferable to take a step back to understand the importance of the right of representation, and therefore start from the concept of “called to the inheritance”. With this expression is meant the subject who, on the basis of a testamentary provision or, in the absence of a will, by provision of law, has the right to accept the inheritance and, therefore, to become heir. The “call” or “vocation” to inheritance therefore represents the situation that occurs from the moment of opening of the succession (that is to say from the death of the de cuius) until when the called party, accepting the “call” provided for in the will or in the law, effectively becomes heir. Boschetti Studio Legale can follow the client step by step in every phase, from the opening of the succession to the acceptance of the inheritance.
If however the called party to the inheritance cannot (for example, because they have died before the de cuius) or does not wish to accept it (for example, if they decide to renounce it), the need arises to identify to whom the inheritance call must be addressed to establish who can take over as successor of the de cuius.
In these cases, our team offers advice to clearly define the successor, respecting the wishes of the deceased.
In legal scope, the called party who cannot or does not intend to accept is defined as “first called”, while the one who is identified subsequently is called “further called”. The legal support of Boschetti Studio Legale ensures correct identification of the called parties, avoiding ambiguities and disputes.
In the case in which the first called cannot or does not want to accept the inheritance and there is no will with a provision of “substitution” (for further details, see the specific article on “substitution”), the “further called” can be identified through the rules of “representation”, provided that the following conditions are satisfied:
- the “first” called (that is to say the one who cannot or does not want to accept the inheritance) must have legitimate or natural descendants;
- the “first” called must be a legitimate, legitimated, adoptive or natural child of the deceased, or brother or sister of the same deceased.
Our firm can assist in the application of these rules, ensuring that the inheritance by representation reaches correctly in every specific case.
If these conditions are satisfied, the descendants of the “first” called, called “representatives”, take over the position and degree of their ascendant (called “represented”), who could not or did not want to accept the inheritance left by the de cuius. It is also important to specify that, within each line of descent from the deceased, representation can take place without limits of degree; this means that representation operates regardless of the degree of kinship between the de cuius and the descendants and it does not matter if, within the same line, the successors by representation are of different degrees compared to the de cuius.
Having a lawyer to verify the correctness of these conditions is extremely important, also where it concerns succession or inheritance representation for a foreign citizen in Italy, since it facilitates a passage of the inheritance free of obstacles.
- Inheritance
- Acceptance of the inheritance
- Actions to protect the inheritance
- Renunciation of the inheritance
- Inheritance collation
- Consensual inheritance division
- Judicial inheritance division
- Acceptance of inheritance with benefit of inventory
- Inheritance representation
- Inheritance shares with and without a will
- Inheritance and donation
- Inheritance to grandchildren
- Digital inheritance
- Petition for inheritance
- Division of the inheritance community
- Lying inheritance
- Inheritance for de facto couples
What succession by representation is and when it applies
Succession by representation occurs when the designated heir (the “first called”) cannot or does not wish to accept the inheritance. In these cases, the right to succeed passes to their descendants, who “represent” them by accepting the inheritance in their place. This mechanism can be applied both in case of will and of legitimate succession (that is to say when the succession is regulated by law). The professionals of Boschetti Studio Legale can provide advice to clarify when and how to activate succession by representation.
Representation requires two elements:
- a subjective one: not any heir can be heir by representation, but only, as we will see further on, the children and brothers of the deceased, or the descendants of the same children and brothers;
- another objective one: representation requires that the ascendant cannot or does not wish to accept the inheritance or the legacy. The heir cannot accept when they have died before the testator or when their existence is uncertain, or they are unworthy, or when they have lost the right to accept by prescription or lapse; they do not wish to accept when they have already renounced the inheritance.
Inheritance representation is activated in specific situations:
- Predecease of the heir: if the heir dies before the person from whom they inherit (the “de cuius”), their descendants can take over.
- Renunciation of the inheritance: if the heir renounces, their descendants have the right to take over.
- Unworthiness to succeed: when an heir is excluded for serious acts against the deceased, their descendants can inherit.
- Uncertainty about the existence of the heir: in the absence of certain news on the existence of the heir, representation applies should descendants emerge. Relying on Boschetti Studio Legale in these situations allows identifying the descendants who can take over, avoiding doubts or conflicts.
Wishing to exemplify to better understand:
let us imagine that Mr. Rossi appoints his son Mario as heir. If Mario, unfortunately, dies before accepting the inheritance, succession by representation allows Mario’s children to inherit in place of their father. In another example, Marta, the only daughter of Elena, is declared unworthy for crimes against her mother. Marta’s children, not involved in the crimes, can take over Marta’s share. Ours is the law firm to ensure that the representatives take over correctly, without errors or omissions.
Who are the heirs by representation
The heirs by representation are the descendants of those who cannot or do not wish to accept the inheritance. There are two main categories:
- Direct descendants: children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the original heir.
- Descendants of brothers or sisters: if the de cuius has no children, the inheritance can pass to the children of brothers or sisters.
Boschetti Studio Legale can assist in the distinction between these heirs, ensuring that representation is correctly applied.
For example, if a deceased leaves an inheritance to their brother, who has died in the meantime, representation allows the children of the brother to take over. The firm is available to manage these situations, ensuring that the inheritance is distributed to family members entitled.
The concept of “stock” in succession by representation is also recalled, but what does it mean? Representation by “stock” means by family descent. If, for example, the deceased has three children, of whom one has died before leaving two children, their inheritance will be divided into three stocks, one for each child. In this way, equity in the distribution is ensured, avoiding that the share of the predeceased heir be lower compared to the other branches. Boschetti Studio Legale can help you to understand and apply succession by stock, ensuring an equitable division of the inheritance.
You will surely have wondered whether the spouse can take over by representation, and the answer to this question is negative, representation is reserved to direct descendants, not to the spouse. If the heir was the spouse but cannot accept, their share does not pass to the children, unless they are children of the deceased.
For complex situations like these, Boschetti Studio Legale is able to provide specific and personalised assistance.
This principle preserves the inheritance in the direct bloodline of the deceased. Relying on our firm ensures that the line of descent is respected and correctly applied.
Representation and inheritance substitution: differences
Representation, inheritance substitution and succession in the right to accept the inheritance are distinct institutions of inheritance law, each with a specific role in the inheritance process. Boschetti Studio Legale offers detailed advice to help to distinguish and correctly apply each of these institutions.
Representation allows the direct descendants of a predeceased heir or one who renounces to automatically take their place, preserving the inheritance line without the intervention of a specific testamentary will. The firm is ready to guide the client through the process, ensuring that representation is correctly applied according to the rules.
On the contrary, inheritance substitution requires an express will of the testator, who, with a testamentary clause, establishes that a designated person takes the place of the original heir if the latter cannot or does not wish to accept the inheritance. In the presence of a substitution clause, this prevails over representation, since it reflects the will of the testator.
Boschetti Studio Legale can clarify the application of these clauses, avoiding possible interpretative conflicts.
Different instead is succession in the right to accept the inheritance, which occurs when an heir dies after the de cuius, but before formally accepting the inheritance: in this case, their descendants inherit the right to accept or not the succession, choosing whether to take over also in the inheritance shares of the de cuius. These institutions, although distinct, ensure continuity in the transmission of patrimony, respecting both the natural line of descent and the testamentary will expressed. Boschetti Studio Legale is available to assist you in the correct interpretation and application of each institution, ensuring respect for the will of the deceased.
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 succession or inheritance representation in Italy
Given the complexity of inheritance representation, relying on Boschetti Studio Legale is essential.
A professional can help to calculate the shares, draft the necessary documents and resolve any conflicts among co-heirs, thus ensuring effective and conflict-free management. Our law firm specialises in support of complex successions, including international ones.
Legal advice for representation in scope of succession or inheritance representation for a foreign citizen in Italy plays a crucial role to ensure that the procedures of patrimonial transfer are compliant with Italian laws and respect the wishes of the deceased, as well as taking into account any international regulations applicable in the case of person residing abroad. Boschetti Studio Legale can assist in the management of cross-border inheritances, facilitating compliance with Italian and international regulations.
Foreigners residing in Italy who inherit assets, or who wish to plan the succession of their Italian assets, must face a complex intersection between Italian civil law and the regulations of their country of origin.
Our team of lawyers has full knowledge of EU Regulation n. 650/2012, which entered into force in Italy in 2015, which regulates international successions, that is to say those successions in which there are profiles of transnationality, for example because it concerns an inheritance patrimony of a foreigner who had their last residence in Italy, but who also has real estate abroad, for example in the United States or Brazil.
An experienced legal advisor can help to clarify the applicable inheritance regime, identify any inheritance taxes and coordinate the bureaucratic aspects for the recognition of inheritance rights.
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How much does a lawyer for a succession case cost?
For those wondering how much a lawyer for a succession case costs it is important to know that the cost depends on various factors, such as the complexity of the succession and the applicable institutions. Generally, Boschetti Studio Legale provides clear and personalised quotes after an initial consultation, to offer transparency and support from the first meeting.
Which professional should one turn to for the succession?
For a succession, especially if complex or with international aspects, it is advisable to turn to a lawyer or law firm specialised in inheritance law with transnational profiles. We at Boschetti Studio Legale offer assistance and qualified professional advice to manage the entire process, helping to resolve patrimonial, inheritance and bureaucratic questions, for foreigners in Italy or Italians residing abroad for successions opened in Italy.
How does inheritance representation work?
Succession by representation determines the legal taking over of descendants (so-called representatives) in the place and degree of the ascendant (so-called represented) who cannot or does not wish to succeed. This means that the representatives jointly acquire the inheritance right that pertained or would have pertained to their ascendant who could not or did not wish to succeed.
Who can inherit by representation?
The heir who can inherit by representation can be exclusively the child or brother (or sister) of the deceased, or the descendants of the aforementioned subjects. This is the subjective requirement of representation, for which the institution is not generally applicable to all categories of heirs who cannot or do not wish to succeed.
How can I ensure the rights of my grandchildren in the Italian inheritance if I live abroad?
To you who are wondering how I can ensure the rights of my grandchildren in the Italian inheritance if I live abroad it must be said that this is a complex situation, but one that an international law firm can manage easily. With targeted advice on the institution of succession by representation and on the identification of the applicable regulation, we at Boschetti Studio Legale can ensure to grandchildren the inheritance share of a child who cannot or does not wish to succeed, even if residing abroad.
What is the difference between representation and substitution?
Representation concerns the entry of a restricted category of descendants in the case in which an heir cannot or does not wish to accept the inheritance, while substitution is the voluntary designation of a substitute by the testator in the eventuality that the designated party does not wish or cannot succeed, for example because already deceased.
Can a foreigner residing in Italy be heir by representation?
Yes, a foreigner residing in Italy can inherit through representation, but since there are profiles of transnationality it will be necessary preliminarily to identify which is the forum and the applicable law, that is to say whether the succession must be regulated by the Italian or foreign legal system. It will be necessary first of all to verify the last residence of the deceased, on the basis of EU Regulation n. 650/2012.
