Wills, probate and estate lawyers in Cyprus
Updated:
George K. Konstantinou Law Firm acts for clients in Cyprus and abroad on wills, probate, estate administration, and inheritance disputes. The firm has advised families on succession matters since 1983, in English and in Russian.
Our wills and probate services
We provide complete services regarding inheritance and succession law, wills and probate, and administration of estates in Cyprus, which include:
- Will drafting and registration with the court.
- Advice on Cyprus will disputes.
- Advising on issues relating to wills and succession law.
- Safe custody of the will until it is needed.
- Preparing application and documentation for the Grant of Probate.
- Resealing foreign grants of probate for assets in Cyprus.
- Appearing where necessary before the Courts.
- Acting as executors or administrators.
- Estate planning for Cyprus residents and foreign owners of Cyprus assets.
Making and registering a will
A will lets you name an executor and direct who receives the part of your estate that the law leaves free to distribute. We draft the will in clear terms, arrange the signing before two witnesses, register it with the District Court, and keep the original in safe custody.
The requirements for a valid will, the costs, the disposable portion limits, and the ways to revoke a will are explained in our guide to making a will in Cyprus.
Probate and administration of estates
Banks and the Land Registry release nothing from a deceased person's estate until the District Court issues a grant of probate or letters of administration. We apply for the grant, prepare the estate inventory and the affidavits, obtain the tax clearance, and distribute the assets to the heirs under court supervision.
Where the grant was issued abroad, we reseal it in Cyprus under Cap. 192 so the local assets can be released. The documents, timeline, fees, and the resealing route are set out in our step-by-step guide to probate in Cyprus.
Estate planning in Cyprus
Estate planning is wider than writing a will. It looks at how assets like property, company shares, bank accounts, and pensions pass on, and how to reduce the delay and costs a poorly prepared estate creates for the family. Forced heirship and a Brussels IV election both feed into the plan.
We advise Cyprus residents and foreign owners of Cyprus assets on arranging their affairs so the estate reaches the people they intend with the least friction.
Foreign nationals and choice of law
Cyprus applies forced heirship: a set share of the estate, the statutory portion, is reserved for close family and cannot be taken away by a will. The EU Succession Regulation 650/2012, known as Brussels IV, lets a person choose the law of their nationality to govern their estate. A British national who owns assets in Cyprus can state in the will that English law applies, which sets aside the Cyprus forced heirship rules.
The choice must be expressly stated in the will. Without it, the estate defaults to the law of the country where the person was habitually resident at death. For anyone with cross-border ties, the wording of this clause decides whether relatives keep a guaranteed share, so it is worth getting right when the will is drafted.
The inheritance shares, the intestacy order, the trusts option, and the position of British expats are covered in our guide to Cyprus succession law.
Will and inheritance disputes
We act for heirs and executors in disputes over the validity of a will and in claims that a statutory share was infringed. Where a will was signed under undue influence or fails the formal requirements of the law, the Court can set it aside. The grounds and the court process are described in our guide to contesting a will in Cyprus.
Fees and consultation
Contact our wills and probate lawyers for a complimentary personal consultation and to ask about our fees.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a will in Cyprus?
You are not required to make one, but without a will the estate passes under the fixed intestacy rules of the Wills and Succession Law (Cap. 195) and the court appoints an administrator chosen by the heirs. A will lets you name your own executor, decide how the disposable portion is shared, add beneficiaries outside the family, and shorten the time to a grant.
Is there inheritance tax in Cyprus?
No. Inheritance tax was abolished for anyone who died on or after 1 January 2000. The estate still has to settle the deceased's own tax debts and obtain a tax clearance before assets are handed over.
Can a foreigner leave their Cyprus property to whoever they want?
Not entirely. Their freedom is capped by the forced heirship limits, except where they elect their national law under the EU Succession Regulation (Brussels IV) in the will. Since the repeal of Section 42 in 2015, British and other foreign nationals are subject to the same statutory shares as Cypriots.
What happens to a will that breaks the forced heirship rules?
It is not struck down in full. It stays valid except for the part that goes beyond the disposable portion, which is cut back to protect the heirs' statutory shares.
Can I contest a will in Cyprus?
Yes. A will can be challenged for lack of capacity, duress, fraud, or undue influence, or where the signing formalities were not met. These disputes are decided by the court in its probate jurisdiction, as explained in our guide to contesting a will in Cyprus.