Learn what kinds of disputes can arise in connection with an inheritance – from disputes over the validity of a will, through disputes over the extent of the estate, to an action by the rightful heir after the proceedings have ended.
Disputes connected with inheritance law can be classified according to when they arose:
These are, for example, disputes concerning the invalidity of legal acts made by the deceased during their lifetime – for instance the invalidity of a deed of gift, resulting in a dispute over the vacating of immovable property coupled with a determination of ownership. A court may decide such a question during the inheritance proceedings themselves or only after they have ended.
Most of these disputes challenge legal acts made by the deceased during their lifetime. They include in particular:
- a dispute over what belongs to the assets of the estate (e.g. an action for a declaration that property (movable/immovable) belongs to the estate, i.e. that the deceased was its owner at the time of death, or alternatively an action for a declaration that "virtual" assets belong to the deceased's estate) or
This category includes above all an action by the rightful heir under § 485 of the Slovak Civil Code, by which the heir claims the surrender of the inheritance.
In inheritance proceedings, the contested issues may concern above all who is an heir, what property makes up the assets and liabilities of the estate, whether the acts made by the deceased during their lifetime (e.g. a will or a deed of disinheritance) were valid, how the inheritance is to be divided, or questions relating to the claims and protection of the rightful heir.
Are you dealing with a dispute over who is an heir, what belongs to the estate, or whether a will is valid? We will assess your specific situation and advise you on how the dispute can be resolved – within the inheritance proceedings or by an action before the court.
Contact us for a no-obligation consultation.
