Created on 28.11.2025
If you have refugee or humanitarian status in Bulgaria, the right to asylum or temporary protection, and live in the country, the general rules of Bulgarian inheritance law apply to you. This means that in the event of your death, Bulgarian law will determine who your heirs are and how they can receive your inheritance.
In this article, you will learn more about the rules of inheritance in Bulgaria. There are two main types of inheritance in Bulgaria: by law or by will. If you do not leave a will, your heirs will be determined according to the law.
I. What is inheritance by law?
The law ranks heirs in order of their closeness to the deceased:
First order
• the children of the deceased (including adopted children);
• grandchildren, if the child has died earlier;
Second order
• parents (mother and father);
III order
• brothers and sisters and their children (nieces and nephews);
• grandparents on the maternal and paternal side
IV order
• aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives up to the sixth degree
Each closer order excludes the more distant one. For example: if the deceased has children (I order), his parents (II order) do not inherit. All persons in the same order inherit equally. For example: if the deceased has two children, each inherits ½ of his property.
Spouse
The spouse inherits together with the heirs of the first to third order. If there are no other heirs of these orders, the spouse inherits everything. Important! In order for the spouse to be entitled to inheritance, it is mandatory that the marriage was legally concluded. In general, the spouses' property is joint (with the exception of money in bank accounts, securities, etc.). This means that upon the death of one spouse, half of the property remains with the surviving spouse, and the other half is divided among the heirs, including the surviving spouse. For more information on getting married in Bulgaria, see here.
What are the specifics of inheritance from a spouse?
• When inheriting with the children of the deceased (first-order heirs), the spouse receives an equal share with them.
• When inheriting with the parents of the deceased (second-order heirs), the amount of the inheritance received by the spouse depends on the duration of the marriage to the deceased:
- in a marriage that lasted more than 10 years, the spouse will inherit ⅔ of the estate;
- if the marriage lasted less than 10 years, they will inherit ½ of the estate.
• Inheritance with the testator's siblings and grandparents (third-order heirs) is more complicated, as these heirs form two groups.
- The firstgroup is that of the testator's brothers and sisters or their ascendants - when inheriting together with them, the spouse receives, in the case of a marriage lasting more than 10 years - ⅔ of the inherited property, and in the case of a marriage lasting less than 10 years - ½ of the inherited property - the remaining property is inherited by the brothers and sisters.
- The secondgroup includes cases of inheritance together with ascendants and siblings or their children - when inheriting together with these relatives, the spouse shall receive, in the case of a marriage lasting more than 10 years, ½ of the inherited property; in a marriage that has lasted less than 10 years - 1/3 of the inherited property - the remaining property is inherited by the grandparents.
II. Do the status or citizenship of the heirs matter?
No. An heir may be:
• a Bulgarian citizen
• a foreigner
• a person with refugee status
• a person with humanitarian status
• a person with temporary protection
• a person living in Bulgaria or abroad
The law does not impose any restrictions based on status, nationality, or residence.
The only condition is that the heir must be a legally recognized relative or have a valid will in their favor.
III. What does the deceased person's estate include?
The estate includes both movable property (e.g., a car) and immovable property (an apartment, a house, etc.). In addition to property rights, the estate also includes liabilities (e.g., if the deceased person had a bank loan, etc.).
What happens if the deceased has property or relatives abroad?
In such a case:
• the inheritance is opened in Bulgaria if the deceased lived here permanently;
• the heirs may live abroad and still inherit;
• for property outside Bulgaria, the law of the respective country applies, but the acceptance of the inheritance usually begins in Bulgaria
In order to inherit from a relative abroad, you must be able to:
• Prove your relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.).
• Submit the documents with translation and legalization if they were issued in another country.
In such situations, we advise you to seek legal advice, as the procedure for proving kinship and accepting the inheritance is complex and in most cases requires specialized legal assistance.
Finding a good lawyer in Bulgaria
IV. Will
If you want to decide for yourself who will inherit what in the event of your death, you can draw up a will. It can be:
• handwritten (written by hand)
• notarized – you go and make the will before a notary in Bulgaria.
Important! Bulgarian law protects children in the event of the death of their parent. Therefore, even with a will, you cannot completely deprive your children of their inheritance and leave your property to another person. Part of your inheritance will always go to your children.
V. What do you need to know as an heir?
• Inheritance is not acquired automatically – it must be accepted.
• It can be accepted explicitly (declaration) or through actions (e.g., use of property).
• Inheritance can also be refused if you do not wish to accept debts or other burdens. For example: if the deceased person has no property but has a bank loan, you can refuse the inheritance. Otherwise, you will be obliged to repay the loan.
Accepting or refusing an inheritance in Bulgaria can be complicated and involve various peculiarities, so we advise you to always seek the assistance of a lawyer to protect your rights in such situations.
Finding a good lawyer in Bulgaria