Argentina Probate, Wills & Inheritance Frequently Asked Questions

Before submitting your enquiry, we suggest that you carefully read our FAQ to find out more about many of the questions our clients usually ask before initiating a succession proceeding.

If after reading them you still have any questions, please feel free to contact us using our contact form.

Contents:

How long will it take to complete a succession proceeding?

One of the most frequent questions our clients usually ask is how long it takes to complete a succession proceeding in the Province of Buenos Aires or in the City of Buenos Aires. The answer depends on:

1. Whether the documentation required to initiate the succession is available: birth certificates, death certificates, vehicles ownership certificates, real property title deeds (houses, departments, vessels, motorcycles, motor vehicles, securities and shares, bank statements).
2. The court where the succession will be settled, which depends on the jurisdiction corresponding to the last domicile of the decedent. Delays vary depending on whether the proceedings will be handled in the Civil Courts of the City of Buenos Aires or in the Civil and Commercial Courts of the Province of Buenos Aires (San Isidro, Moron, San Martin)
3. The number of heirs and their willingness to speed up the process by signing all the documentation needed and by collaborating in moving forward the judicial process.
4. Whether there is any conflict among heirs, in which case, such conflicts must first be solved by a judge to be able to move forward with the succession proceedings as set forth by the legislation in force.

Finally, it is to note that the completion of all procedural terms and stages (filing of the petition for succession, publication of estate notices in the Official Gazette, ruling acknowledging the legal heirs to an intestate succession, distribution and registration of the assets composing the decedent’s estate) is the guiding principle of any succession proceeding.

Kier Joffe Law Firm provides the most effective legal solution for succession cases of diverse nature. We handle both simple and complex registrations involving assets in the national territory and abroad.

What types of successions are there?

successions:
1.Intestate succession (without a will), which corresponds to most cases; and
2. Testamentary succession (with a will)

Which are the initial expenses involved in opening a succession?


Succession expenses are incurred per stages. They may involve the issuance of certificates evidencing family bonds between the decedent and their heirs, the form used to register proceedings involving the entire estate of a person,  court fees, attorney’s mandatory social security contributions (lex provisional), and succession notices. It is not an expensive process.

Are succession proceedings unnecessary if the deceased person has left a will?


No, wills do not render succession proceedings unnecessary as a testamentary succession will have to be initiated.

Are estate notices necessary in a testamentary succession?


Yes, even if heirs present a will, courts usually order the publication of succession notices to make sure that there are no forced heirs and that the will is valid.

Which are the most frequently used types of wills?


Holographic and notarial wills.

Can a will be revoked?


Yes, as many times as the testator may desire. The last will made will be the valid one, superseding all previous wills.

What does it mean to honor the legitime?


The legitime is the portion of estate the testator may not freely dispose of, even if they want to, as it is reserved for forced heirs by law.

What portion of the decedent’s estate is the legitime?


Children are entitled to inherit 4/5 of the decedent’s estate, parents inherit 2/3, and the surviving spouse inherits 1/2. This does not mean that they will inherit that percentage only, but determines the portion of the estate they cannot be deprived of by will. The remaining portion of the estate can be disposed of by will for the benefit of any other individual (regardless of whether they are relatives or not, forced heirs or not).

What happens if a person dies leaving no heirs and no will?


It is considered escheated property and, as such, all assets are transferred to the Government of the City of Buenos Aires. This is not convenient, as assets will not benefit those who should be benefiting from them. If you have no forced neither natural heirs, or if you do not wish your relatives to inherit you, you can make a will in favor of a public welfare organization as a way to contribute to the community.

Can a succession proceeding be initiated if any of the heirs do not agree?


Yes, a single heir may initiate the succession and may inform the judge of the existence of all other heirs, who will be summoned by judicial notice to appear in court and enforce their rights. In addition, succession notices shall also be published. However, if heirs are known, they must be reported in the initial pleadings.

What documents must be submitted to initiate a succession proceeding?


Original death certificate
Birth certificates of surviving children and, if applicable, death certificate of any deceased children.
Marriage certificate if the decedent was married.
Spouse’s death certificate if the decedent was a widow or widower.
Certificates evidencing any other type of relationship.
Bank account or safe deposit box information (this can be obtained by court order, but it will take longer).
Title deed of real property, vehicles, vessels, or any other property subject to registration.
Chain of title report of all assets to be transferred.
Real property tax bills.
Municipal tax bills.
Original will in case of testamentary succession.

How are the amounts to be allowed for counsel's fees fixed in a succession proceeding?


Pursuant to the applicable legislation, counsel’s fees in the City of Buenos Aires range from 11% to 20% of the actual value of assets, less 25%.
In the Province of Buenos Aires, they range from 7% to 25% of the assets’ tax valuation (which is close to the actual value) or actual value. As the amounts to be allowed for counsel’s fees in a succession proceeding may be quite high, it is advisable to enter into a fees arrangement with your attorney before initiating the proceedings. Such arrangement usually provides for a lower percentage: from 10 % to 15 % of the value of assets, depending on their significance (the greater the number of assets, the smaller the percentage charged).
If you do not enter into a fees arrangement with your attorney, they may request the courts to fix the amount of counsel’s fees, which may be much higher than those you would have agreed by mutual consent.

When are counsel’s fees paid in a succession proceeding?


This may be agreed with the attorney handling the succession. You may agree on paying counsel’s fees in installments throughout the proceedings; or in a one-off payment once the ruling acknowledging the legal heirs of an asset is registered or once the asset is sold, if it has been planned that it will be sold immediately. A customized agreement may be reached with each client depending on the characteristics of each case. Clients wishing not to sell the assets inherited, prefer to pay in installments or to pay after the ruling acknowledging the legal heirs is registered. Other clients decide to sell the inherited assets as soon as possible because they do not have enough money to make payments throughout the proceedings. In that case, attorneys collect their fees once the real property is sold, for which purposes, a reasonable term is set to complete the sale.

Can the assets of a decedent’s estate be sold before paying counsel’s fees?
The assets of a decedent’s estate cannot be sold if the related counsel’s fees remain unpaid. The judge will demand the consent of all attorneys that may have acted in the succession proceedings, not just the last one. The attorneys may object to the sale until their fees are paid, or they may agree to it on the condition that the acting Notary Public may withhold the amounts necessary to cover their fees. For more information about Professional Fees please click here.

How much does a succession proceeding cost?


In the City of Buenos Aires, court filing fees amount to 1.5% of the proportional value of the assets included in the decedent’s estate, whereas registration expenses depend on the assets to be registered. In the Province of Buenos Aires, court filing fees amount to 2.2% plus a court surcharge equivalent to 10% of the amount of court filing fees. In addition, turnover tax and social security contributions are payable as well.

When is a succession completed?


Once the succession or assets distribution are registered with the Registry of Property, and the client receives a certified copy thereof, the succession is considered completed. Frequently, it is erroneously believed that the succession is over just because the ruling acknowledging the legal heirs has been issued. But this is not the case. Heirs may not dispose of the assets until such ruling is registered with the corresponding Registry.

Can the succession include a single asset if the decedent’s estate is composed of several assets?


Yes, initially, a succession may be opened and the ruling acknowledging the legal heirs to it may be registered for a single asset. All other assets may be progressively added and registered in the future. In certain cases, the decedent’s assets are not known or no accurate information about them is available at the time the proceedings are initiated; thus, assets are reported gradually.

What is the decedent’s estate?


The decedent’s estate is the totality of assets (real and personal property, vessels, vehicles, shares, and investments) owned by the decedent and subject to succession proceedings after their death.

What are estate notices?


The publication of estate notices is mandatory to initiate any intestate succession proceedings (without a will). These notices, whereby heirs and creditors are summoned to enforce their rights, are published for three days in the Official Gazette as well as in any other newspaper chosen by the Judge. Heirs and creditors are granted a 30-day term to appear in court following the publication of the last estate notice. If the estate is composed of a single asset of no multimillionaire value, the attorney may request that estate notices be published in the Official Gazette only (as this is less expensive).

How can it be determined which assets must be subject to succession proceedings if the decedent’s estate is unknown?


An enquiry is filed with the Registries of Real Property of the City and the Province of Buenos Aires providing the decedent’s name, surname and ID number so as to obtain a certificate listing all assets registered under that name. If the bank where the decedent held their accounts is not known, an information request may be sent to the Central Bank of Argentina so that it may inform the decedent’s data held by it.

What is the acknowledgement of the legal heirs to an intestate succession?


It is the ruling entered by a judge whereby the legal heirs to an intestate succession are acknowledged. It is issued after the expiration of the succession notices and it recognizes as heirs all those who have appeared in court and proved their relationship with the deceased.

Do spouses inherit marital property?


No. When one of the spouses dies, the other one acquires 50% of the marital property they were entitled to, as the marital partnership is terminated because of death. Any surviving children will inherit the remaining 50% of marital property in equal shares. Marital property is property acquired during marriage.

What percentage of separate property is inherited by the spouse?


If the deceased has left surviving children, the surviving spouse will inherit the same percentage of separate property as all other children. The surviving spouse will not inherit 50% of the decedent’s separate property, but the same percentage as their children. Therefore, if a surviving spouse and 4 surviving children are acknowledged as heirs, each of them will inherit 1/5 of the separate property owned by the decedent.
Separate property is any property acquired before marriage or by inheritance or gift.

What is a holographic will?


It is the simplest and most inexpensive type of will, as it is handwritten, signed, and dated by the testator. To be filed in the succession proceedings, heirs must first have the testator’s handwriting and signature recognized by two witnesses and, then, they must have the will notarized. It is convenient (although not essential) that the testator’s signature be certified by Notary Public or that the holographic will be registered with the Bar Association of the City of Buenos Aires.

What is a notarial will?


It is a deed signed before a Notary Public in the presence of three witnesses. It is much more expensive than the holographic will that may be suggested by any attorney. The advantage is that if it gets lost or if someone makes it disappear, a copy will always be kept at the Notary Association. Nevertheless, a copy of the holographic will can also be kept at the Bar Association.

In which jurisdiction are succession proceedings initiated?


The competent jurisdiction is determined by the last domicile of the deceased, i.e. it depends on where they lived. If their last domicile was located in the City of Buenos Aires, the succession proceedings will be initiated at the Civil Court corresponding to that City. If their last domicile was located in the Province of Buenos Aires, the proceedings may be brought in the court closest to their last domicile, or a change of venue to any other location in the province may also be requested.
It doesn’t matter where the assets of the estate are located. If the last domicile of the deceased was located in the city of Buenos Aires, that’s where the succession will be initiated. The domicile appearing in the death certificate is crucial. If the last domicile of the deceased was, for instance, Italy and they had assets in Argentina, the succession proceedings will be brought in an Argentine court.

What is a substitute heir?


If an heir of the decedent dies, such right is transferred to the descendants of the deceased heir who may substitute the deceased heir and inherit what the latter may have been entitled to. For instance, in the succession of a man (grandfather) whose son (father) died before him, his granddaughter will be entitled to inherit her grandfather as a substitute heir replacing her late father. The substitute heir will inherit the exact same portion of estate as the represented heir would have inherited.

What is the assignment of inheritance rights and succession related actions?


The assignment of inheritance rights and succession related actions is documented by means of a public deed whereby heirs assign to others their rights and obligations with respect to a given asset or to the entire estate. This deed must be filed after the succession is opened and before requesting that the ruling acknowledging the legal heirs be registered. It is used to divide assets among heirs or to sell them.

How are assets registered in a succession?


The assets of a succession may be registered as jointly owned property (i.e., each heir is the owner of the percentage of assets to which they are entitled) or, if the assets have already been distributed or if rights to them have already been assigned, each heir may appear as owner of the corresponding asset. This registration is not made before a Notary Public but before the court settling the succession.

Are succession proceedings unnecessary if the decedent’s real property is sold following a fast tracking purchase process?


No. Succession proceedings are not rendered unnecessary if real property is sold in a fast tracking purchase process, as the only step “avoided” in that case would be to register the piece of real property in the name of heirs to then sell it shortly afterwards. Succession proceedings must be conducted anyway.

When should the acknowledgement of the legal heirs to an intestate succession be registered under a fast tracking system?


If by the time the succession is completed, the heirs have finally decided to sell the assets, the ruling acknowledging the legal heirs to an intestate succession must be registered by fast tracking; i.e. in a single act before a Notary Public, assets are transferred from the registered owner (the decedent) to heirs and from heirs to buyer. For such purposes, the attorney must request that the registration be made by fast tracking, and must provide the name, domicile and telephone number of the acting notary public, who will be authorized to take the succession records for a few days so as to prepare the fast tracking title deed.

Growth in the Buenos Aires-Argentina hotel industry

The hotel sector in the Buenos Aires real estate market is attracting property developers. Tourism is on the up and there is a diverse variety of options opening up to investors.

Hotel industry information:

•    Hotels are the real estate sector that provides profit in the long term.
•    Boutique hotels are a new phenomena that is one of the popular options for investors.
•    The location of boutique hotel is crucial in its success. There is already an oversupply in areas like San Telmo and Palermo, with hotels finding it hard to compete.
•    The amount of money required to open a Buenos Aires boutique hotel is estimated at costing between $ 2 million and $ 5 million US dollars.  The expenditure per room costs between $ 150,000 and $ 250,000, including land and fittings.
•    On top of the costs of constructing and fitting a hotel investors also have to consider the costs of launching the hotel on the market. It takes a lot of time, hard work and money to earn a reputation as a reputable hotel.
•    Enterprises in the Buenos Aires hotel market have the best chance of increasing in value.
•    Mid-range hotels make up the part of the market that is growing the most, thanks to corporate tourism and business trips. This sector needs to be standardized so that clients know what services to expect in this type of hotels. Until what is expected in mid-range hotels has been established, larger, hotel chains will perform better as people can trust in what they will receive during their stay.
•    Hotels with limited or selective services are the new tendency for hotel developers, successfully combining quality, basic services and fair prices. Rooms in this type of hotel are smaller but well designed and are awarded three or four stars.
•    Mid-range Buenos Aires hotels withstand the economic crisis and have an income of around 12% annually.
•    The amount of money invested per room should not exceed $ 70,000 US dollars in 3 and 4 star establishments. Luxury hotels are much more risky investments as they require an investment per room of between $ 300,000 and $ 500,000 US dollars.
•    ‘Fractional’ hotel developments allow investors to diversify and lower the risks in investing. Fractional enterprises are typically hotels with timeshare homes, with one room ‘owned’ by 4 to 12 different proprietors. This is a smart investment in places where there is high seasonality.

The Buenos Aires hotel market is expanding, with boutique hotels and fractional, mixed hotels creating exciting and diverse options for investors.

The proven Buenos Aires – Argentina lawyer professionals at the Kier Joffe law firm have experience working with foreign clients involved in all kind of cases in Argentina. Buenos Aires Argentina attorney professionals are knowledgeable in almost all the practice areas of law, to service its international cases in Buenos Aires Argentina. International clients will have the confidence of knowing that the case is being handled by an experienced and knowledgeable Buenos Aires  lawyer in Argentina.

www.kierjoffe.com

Argentina Business attorneys

Argentina Business attorneys

Do You Need an Argentina Business attorneys?

Deciding whether to hire a Argentina Busainess attorneys is an important decision. The first issue is whether you need a Argentina Business attorneys.

The involvement of a Argentina  attorneys who is experienced in Business international cases will provide to the client with a full understanding of their rights and responsibilities. An experienced Business  attorneys can also help to avoid future legal problems that may arise.

Not Every Business attorneys will be Right for You

You must be sure that your philosophy of how to handle your Business case matches that of your  attorneys; both of you need to be on the same page. It is important that you ask questions and gather information which reveals the  attorneys’s philosophy for handling cases.

Selecting the right Business attorneys for your case will help you get through legal problems with the least amount of time, stress and money.

Research Your Argentina Business  attorneys

Once you have selected a Business  attorneys to meet with, the next thing you should do is look into that  attorneys’s experience and background. The best way is to search the Internet: Do a Google search on your  attorneys. Look for a legal blog, a website, news stories quoting or featuring the  attorneys, and other online information.

Contacting the Business  attorneys’s Office and Scheduling Your Initial Consultation

Now that you have selected a Business  attorneys to interview and have done research on him or her, the next step is to contact the  attorneys’s office and schedule an appointment.

If you are not located in Argentina, you can also schedule a Video/Call Conference using Skype, Google Hangout or Facetime.

You can learn a lot about how your  attorneys will behave if you retain him or her just by how he or she handles the simple but important task of scheduling a meeting with you as a potential new client.

Contact the Business  attorneys’s office by telephone or e-mail and request an appointment or a Video/Call Conference. When you do this, it is important to tell the  attorneys’s office that you would like to discuss a specific type of Business case. Take careful note of how quickly your message is answered. Your inquiry should always be answered promptly. If the  attorneys you contacted cannot manage to reply to a potential new client who is bringing him or her a new case and therefore new fees, that fact should tell you something about how he or she will behave once he or she already has your money.

Finally, you should ask about the cost of the initial consultation. Evaluate the response you get to these questions. Was the response clear and unequivocal?

The proven Argentina Business  attorneys  at theKier Joffe  attorneyshave experience working with foreign clients involved in all kind of international cases in Argentina. Argentina Argentina  attorneys professionals are knowledgeable in almost all the practice areas of law, to service its international cases in Argentina Argentina. International clients will have the confidence of knowing that the case is being handled by an experienced and knowledgeable Argentina   attorneys in Argentina.

KIER JOFFE –  attorneysa at Law

Bouchard 557 Floor 20

Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

C1106ABG

View Map

USA: +(1) 315.359.5550

ARG: +(54) 115.218.3100

www.KierJoffe.com

Argentina Business Attorneys

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Argentina Inheritance lawyers

Argentina Inheritance lawyers

Do You Need an Argentina Inheritance lawyers?

Deciding whether to hire a Argentina Inheritance lawyers is an important decision. The first issue is whether you need a Argentina Inheritance lawyers.

The involvement of a Argentina  lawyers who is experienced in Inheritance international cases will provide to the client with a full understanding of their rights and responsibilities. An experienced Inheritance  lawyers can also help to avoid future legal problems that may arise.

Not Every Inheritance lawyers will be Right for You

You must be sure that your philosophy of how to handle your Inheritance case matches that of your  lawyers; both of you need to be on the same page. It is important that you ask questions and gather information which reveals the  lawyers’s philosophy for handling cases.

Selecting the right Inheritance lawyers for your case will help you get through legal problems with the least amount of time, stress and money.

Research Your Argentina Inheritance  lawyers

Once you have selected a Inheritance  lawyers to meet with, the next thing you should do is look into that  lawyers’s experience and background. The best way is to search the Internet: Do a Google search on your  lawyers. Look for a legal blog, a website, news stories quoting or featuring the  lawyers, and other online information.

Contacting the Inheritance  lawyers’s Office and Scheduling Your Initial Consultation

Now that you have selected a Inheritance  lawyers to interview and have done research on him or her, the next step is to contact the  lawyers’s office and schedule an appointment.

If you are not located in Argentina, you can also schedule a Video/Call Conference using Skype, Google Hangout or Facetime.

You can learn a lot about how your  lawyers will behave if you retain him or her just by how he or she handles the simple but important task of scheduling a meeting with you as a potential new client.

Contact the Inheritance  lawyers’s office by telephone or e-mail and request an appointment or a Video/Call Conference. When you do this, it is important to tell the  lawyers’s office that you would like to discuss a specific type of Inheritance case. Take careful note of how quickly your message is answered. Your inquiry should always be answered promptly. If the  lawyers you contacted cannot manage to reply to a potential new client who is bringing him or her a new case and therefore new fees, that fact should tell you something about how he or she will behave once he or she already has your money.

Finally, you should ask about the cost of the initial consultation. Evaluate the response you get to these questions. Was the response clear and unequivocal?

The proven Argentina Inheritance  lawyers  at the Kier Joffe  lawyers have experience working with foreign clients involved in all kind of international cases in Argentina. Argentina Argentina  lawyers professionals are knowledgeable in almost all the practice areas of law, to service its international cases in Argentina Argentina. International clients will have the confidence of knowing that the case is being handled by an experienced and knowledgeable Argentina   lawyers in Argentina.

KIER JOFFE –  lawyersa at Law

Bouchard 557 Floor 20

Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

C1106ABG

View Map

USA: +(1) 315.359.5550

ARG: +(54) 115.218.3100

www.KierJoffe.com

Argentina Inheritance Attorneys

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Argentina Trusts law firm

Argentina Trusts law firm

Do You Need an Argentina Trusts law firm?

Deciding whether to hire a Argentina Trusts law firm is an important decision. The first issue is whether you need a Argentina Trusts law firm.

The involvement of a Argentina  law firm who is experienced in Trusts international cases will provide to the client with a full understanding of their rights and responsibilities. An experienced Trusts  law firm can also help to avoid future legal problems that may arise.

Not Every Trusts law firm will be Right for You 

You must be sure that your philosophy of how to handle your Trusts case matches that of your  law firm; both of you need to be on the same page. It is important that you ask questions and gather information which reveals the  law firm’s philosophy for handling cases.

Selecting the right Trusts law firm for your case will help you get through legal problems with the least amount of time, stress and money.

Research Your Argentina Trusts  law firm

Once you have selected a Trusts  law firm to meet with, the next thing you should do is look into that  law firm’s experience and background. The best way is to search the Internet: Do a Google search on your  law firm. Look for a legal blog, a website, news stories quoting or featuring the  law firm, and other online information.

Contacting the Trusts  law firm’s Office and Scheduling Your Initial Consultation

Now that you have selected a Trusts  law firm to interview and have done research on him or her, the next step is to contact the  law firm’s office and schedule an appointment.

If you are not located in Argentina, you can also schedule a Video/Call Conference using Skype, Google Hangout or Facetime.

You can learn a lot about how your  law firm will behave if you retain him or her just by how he or she handles the simple but important task of scheduling a meeting with you as a potential new client.

Contact the Trusts  law firm’s office by telephone or e-mail and request an appointment or a Video/Call Conference. When you do this, it is important to tell the  law firm’s office that you would like to discuss a specific type of Trusts case. Take careful note of how quickly your message is answered. Your inquiry should always be answered promptly. If the  law firm you contacted cannot manage to reply to a potential new client who is bringing him or her a new case and therefore new fees, that fact should tell you something about how he or she will behave once he or she already has your money.

Finally, you should ask about the cost of the initial consultation. Evaluate the response you get to these questions. Was the response clear and unequivocal?

The proven Argentina Trusts   law firm  at the Kier Joffe  law firm have experience working with foreign clients involved in all kind of international cases in Argentina. Argentina Argentina  law firm professionals are knowledgeable in almost all the practice areas of law, to service its international cases in Argentina Argentina. International clients will have the confidence of knowing that the case is being handled by an experienced and knowledgeable Argentina   law firm in Argentina.

KIER JOFFE –  law firma at Law

Bouchard 557 Floor 20

Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

C1106ABG

View Map

USA: +(1) 315.359.5550

ARG: +(54) 115.218.3100

www.KierJoffe.com

Buenos Aires Trusts Attorney

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