Wills & Probate in Cyprus

Why You Need a Cyprus Will

If you own property, bank accounts or other assets in Cyprus, a Cyprus will lets you direct how those assets pass on your death and makes the administration far quicker for your family. Without a will, your Cyprus estate is distributed under the intestacy rules, and forced heirship reserves a fixed share for close family regardless of your wishes. A separate Cyprus will, dealing with your Cyprus assets, also avoids the delay and cost of relying on a foreign will in the Cyprus courts. Read our guide on creating a will in Cyprus.

Forced Heirship and the Disposable Portion

Cyprus succession law, under the Wills and Succession Law, applies forced heirship. Where the deceased leaves a spouse and children, only a portion of the estate can be freely disposed of by will, and the rest is reserved for the statutory heirs. The exact shares depend on who survives the deceased. Careful planning, sometimes combined with a Cyprus International Trust, can help you structure your estate within these rules, and we advise on the options that fit your family and your assets.

Making a Valid Cyprus Will

To be valid, a Cyprus will must be in writing, signed by the testator in the presence of two witnesses who also sign, and it is best deposited with the Probate Registry of the District Court for safekeeping. We draft wills that are clear, properly executed and consistent with any wills you hold in other countries, so that your estate plan works as a whole rather than one will accidentally revoking another. See our Cyprus wills service.

Probate and Administration

When a person dies owning assets in Cyprus, an application for a grant of probate, where there is a will, or letters of administration, where there is none, must be made to the court before the estate can be dealt with. The process usually takes several months and involves identifying the assets and liabilities, settling debts, and distributing what remains to the beneficiaries. We handle the full process on behalf of executors and heirs. Learn more about probate and administration in Cyprus.

Cross Border Estates and Trusts

Many of our clients hold assets in more than one country. We coordinate Cyprus succession with the rules that apply elsewhere, advise on the EU Succession Regulation where it is relevant, and use structures such as the Cyprus International Trust for asset protection and long term estate planning. Our aim is a plan that protects your family and passes your wealth on with as little tax and friction as possible.