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23 March 2026in TVI Notícias Cláudia Leonardo comments on inheritance law in Portugal in an interview with TVI

Melo Alves partner Cláudia Leonardo was interviewed yesterday by TVI to comment on inheritance law, a topic that has recently returned to public debate following the Government’s intention to facilitate the management of undivided estates, with a view to increasing housing supply.

During her intervention, Cláudia Leonardo noted that “it is very difficult to disinherit a forced heir”, highlighting the strong protection granted under Portuguese law to close family members. She also explained how individuals may organise their estate, the limits to testamentary freedom, and the mechanisms commonly used to address the constraints associated with the reserved portion of the estate.

The topic has also gained relevance in light of recent data. According to analyses by the newspaper Expresso and recent statistics on successions in Portugal, the inheritance landscape is characterised by strong protection of forced heirs (close family members) and an increase in the use of wills. A study cited by Expresso indicates that around 40% of the largest fortunes in Portugal are inherited, highlighting the impact of inheritance on economic inequality.

Click here to view the interview (portuguese version only).