When someone dies owning Brazilian assets, those assets go through Brazilian probate — inventário — no matter what a foreign will says. We run it for heirs abroad, start to finish, by power of attorney.
Brazilian law is territorial about death: real estate, bank accounts, vehicles, and company shares located in Brazil pass through Brazilian probate, under Brazilian rules, even if the deceased was foreign, lived abroad, and left a foreign will. For families outside Brazil this lands as a shock at the worst possible time — and unattended Brazilian estates decay fast, with property taxes accruing, accounts frozen, and squatter and fraud risk on empty real estate.
The good news: Brazil offers a fast lane. When heirs agree and no minors are involved, probate can run extrajudicially at a notary rather than through court — often closing in months rather than years. With heirs abroad, the entire process can run on powers of attorney: we gather the asset picture, compute and pay the state inheritance tax (ITCMD), execute the partition deed, and register assets in the heirs' names while the family stays home.
On the planning side, Brazil's forced heirship rule shapes everything: half of an estate is reserved by law for necessary heirs (children, spouse, parents). A will controls only the other half. Foreigners who own Brazilian property need plans built on that reality — wills that work in both systems, regime choices at marriage, and in some cases lifetime structuring — rather than a home-country will that Brazil will partially override.
Every price is itemized like an honest receipt — our flat fee, plus each government, registry and translation charge, estimated high so the number only ever moves down. Add a package to your cart and pay online, or request a quote for anything bespoke. Only value-based taxes are billed at cost; the final fee is confirmed in your engagement letter.
What exists in Brazil, what it's worth, who the legal heirs are, and which probate track applies.
Notary-track probate run by power of attorney: ITCMD paid, partition deed, assets registered to the heirs.
Forced-heirship-aware planning: a Brazilian will that works alongside your home-country one.
All-in estimates for English-speaking service to foreigners, with every fee we can foresee rounded up. Two cases with the same label can differ in scope — your engagement letter sets the final, written fee, and lines marked “at cost” (value-based taxes like ITBI and ITCMD) are passed through with receipts. Contested or litigated matters are quoted individually, never sold off a price list.
What exists in Brazil, what it's worth, who the legal heirs are under Brazilian law, and which probate track applies.
Each heir signs a POA at a consulate or apostilles one locally — the key that lets everything run remotely.
ITCMD computed and paid, partition deed drafted and executed at the notary.
Assets registered in heirs' names — then sold and proceeds remitted, if that's the family's wish.
Add a package above to start online, or describe your situation and a lawyer replies within one business day — no obligation, no hourly meter.