Inheritance Law

A clear starting point after a death

Settling an estate can be difficult when relatives disagree, records are incomplete or family members live in different countries. Before dividing assets, establish who can act, what belongs to the estate and what debts or obligations need attention.

ZL Attorneys advises on estate settlement, inheritance disputes and estate planning, and represents clients in court. We can help a family organize the legal questions and coordinate with a notary or other advisers where the matter requires it.

The first questions to resolve

• Is there a will, and has the relevant testament register been checked?
• Who are the possible heirs, beneficiaries and persons appointed to administer the estate?
• Where did the deceased live, and in which countries are assets and debts located?
• Are there minor heirs, a surviving spouse or disputed family relationships?
• Has anyone already accepted or rejected the inheritance, dealt with assets or received a court notice?

These facts matter more than a general assumption that all property automatically passes to a particular relative. A will, family circumstances and the applicable succession rules must be considered together.

Local procedures and estate administration

The Curaçao court provides a procedure for requesting appointment of an estate liquidator, a vereffenaar. Its official application form identifies the grounds and supporting documents. These include information about the deceased, a testament-register extract, known heirs and estate assets, and an inheritance certificate or record of acceptance under benefit of inventory where applicable.

Appointment of a liquidator is not required for every estate. We assess whether court involvement is appropriate for the particular difficulty, such as an estate left without administration or a dispute affecting its settlement.

The court also publishes a form concerning a deadline for an heir's decision on acceptance. If you receive such a request or another court document, have its effect and deadline checked promptly.

Acceptance, debts and protecting the estate

Before taking or distributing estate property, obtain advice about the available choices: acceptance, acceptance under benefit of inventory (beneficiaire aanvaarding) or rejection. Which steps are appropriate—and what responsibilities follow—depends on the estate and your position. Tell your lawyer about anything already signed, sold, withdrawn or transferred.

Make an initial inventory of property, accounts, company interests, mortgages and other known debts. Preserve records and receipts. Distinguish urgent preservation expenses from decisions to distribute assets, and check who is authorized to act.

Inheritance disputes and planning

Disagreements may concern a will, access to information, management of property, valuations or the proposed division. We identify what is disputed, what evidence is missing and whether an agreed solution is possible before considering proceedings.

For planning during your lifetime, start with your family, assets and objectives. A private foundation or company structure requires its own succession, governance and tax assessment; it is not a substitute for considering a will and the rules affecting your family.

Questions clients ask

I live abroad. Can you help with a Curaçao estate?

We can begin remotely and assess the Curaçao aspects. Tell us where the deceased lived and where each relevant asset is situated. Foreign advice, translated or legalized documents, and a power of attorney may be needed depending on the work involved.

Is a notary or a lawyer the right starting point?

A notary may be needed for formal estate documents or property transactions. A lawyer can advise on a dispute, your legal position and possible court steps. We help identify which professional input the matter requires.

Can one heir sell the family home?

Do not assume that one family member has authority to sell. Ownership, the will, administration arrangements and any required consent must be checked before a commitment is made.

Prepare for a first discussion

Have the death certificate, any will, family details, property records, known debts and correspondence from a notary or court available. You do not need a complete inventory to make an initial enquiry.

Contact ZL Attorneys with your relationship to the deceased, the countries involved and the issue preventing progress. Flag any court deadline. This overview explains the starting points; it does not determine anyone's entitlement to an estate.