To begin with
Who stands close to you is not necessarily who inherits from you. Start with the people who are important to you.
“What do you hear from yourself when no one expects anything from you?”
Your questions, step by step
You do not need to have a fully developed plan yet. We start with your family, your wishes and what you yourself need to live on with peace of mind.
Why do I go to the notaire for this?
The civil-law notary brings together your existing agreements and compares what you want to arrange for yourself, your partner and other loved ones. Advice can also show that a planned transfer is better postponed.
How do I protect my family and arrange my estate?
Make an overview of family, assets, income and existing documents.
Compare the consequences of possible arrangements during life and after death.
Only then choose which deeds or other steps will be carried out.
How does this proceed and how long does it take?
There is no general turnaround time. Health, a planned sale or foreign interests may influence the order.
Each chosen arrangement has its own formalities.
Which documents should I provide to the notaire?
Prepare what you already have. You do not need to wait until your folder is complete to make an appointment.
Is a document missing or do you not know where to find it? Check the help for each document. We will discuss what the office can obtain for you and what you still need to provide yourself.
Where can I find this?
Provide the full text and any amendments. Look in your deed folder or Mijn akten. Not everything is digitally available; if necessary, indicate which office drafted the deed.
Where can I find this?
Provide the full text and any amendments. Look in your deed folder or Mijn akten. Not everything is digitally available; if necessary, indicate which office drafted the deed.
Where can I find this?
Provide the full text and any amendments. Look in your deed folder or Mijn akten. Not everything is digitally available; if necessary, indicate which office drafted the deed.
Where can I find this?
Provide the complete version with date, attachments and later amendments. Do you not have this document or do you not know if it exists? Select “Help needed” and discuss it with the office.
Where can I find this?
Request the most recent version from your accountant or company manager. Add changes and attachments; the office determines which additional reports are needed.
These check marks only remain on the opened page and are not sent to the office.
Open the checklist: ready, need help or not applicableWhat does the notaire do and investigate?
- What facts, existing documents and applicable rules apply?
- What do different scenarios mean for your family?
- What must you keep for living expenses and care?
- Which concrete next steps are legally and practically feasible?
We agree on which searches the office will conduct and which information you, your bank or another expert will provide.
What do I check before the next step?
Check what you keep yourself, who gets which rights and how the arrangements work together. Ask what happens with a different order of death.
What else must I arrange afterwards?
Keep an overview of the chosen agreements and review them after a major life event. Not every advice immediately leads to a deed.
Which practical tips can help me?
Start with your future housing and care needs. An arrangement must also remain viable when your circumstances change.
What do these words mean?
- Succession Planning
- Thinking ahead about protection and transfer of your assets.
- Usufruct
- the right to use or income from a property.
Where can I find more explanation or help?
You do not have to phrase your question in legal terms. Tell what concerns you, what you want to arrange and if an important date is approaching.
We will look together at the next step. We agree in advance on how the office will assist you and what costs are involved.
Ask your question to the officeMake an AppointmentGeneral explanation for your preparation. The rules and documents that apply to you are determined based on your file.
On this page
What happens if you arrange nothing extra?
YOUR STARTING POINT
Without your own arrangement, the law determines who your heirs are. Your personal bond with a friend, neighbour or godchild does not automatically give that person inheritance rights. Also, a carer does not receive an inheritance share solely by virtue of that role.
More points to consider for your own situation
You have children
Your children are primarily your legal heirs. If a child has already passed away, their children or further descendants can inherit in their place.
Your children are collectively entitled to a protected portion: half of the estate considered by law. This is called their reserve. That calculation takes into account not only what you own at death. Earlier gifts can also count. You can generally decide freely over the other half.
You have no children
Without descendants, depending on your family, parents, brothers, sisters and their descendants become relevant. If both parents are alive and there are brothers or sisters, each parent generally inherits a quarter and the other half goes to the brothers and sisters.
You can deviate from that legal order with a will. Parents, brothers and sisters do not have a reserved portion by law. For needy parents a special maintenance claim may exist. If you were ever married, the consequences of divorce or a previous estate also need to be considered.
You also want someone beside you during your lifetime
An heir is not automatically entitled today to manage your bank accounts or home. With a mandat de protection extrajudiciaire / extrajudicial protection mandate you can determine in advance who represents you and within what limits.
Choose someone who can and wants to take on the responsibility. Also consider a substitute and someone who oversees. A trusted person does not have to be the same as the person to whom you later bequeath something.
After a breakup: what continues to have effect?
Living alone does not necessarily mean all old legal bonds are terminated. If you are still married but living apart, you remain spouses until the marriage is legally ended. Legal cohabitation also does not disappear merely because someone moves.
If you are finally divorced, property or a loan may still need to be settled. An old power of attorney, a will in favour of an ex-partner or a beneficiary in an insurance contract also requires separate review. Make a list of what is still in both names and of documents mentioning your ex.
Who arranges what when you die?
A mandat de protection extrajudiciaire / extrajudicial protection mandate does not make your trusted person the owner or heir after your death. The estate must be established and the heirs or testamentary beneficiaries must be determined. Debts belong to that inventory, alongside home, money and other property.
If you want to leave something to a friend, an oral promise is not a substitute for a valid will. Also think of a substitute if that friend dies before you. If you have children, have an explanation of how much you can freely allocate taking into account previous gifts and their protected inheritance share.
What can you arrange yourself?
YOUR CHOICES
Which choice helps you achieve what you want? That also depends on your existing agreements and the rights of your partner, children or others.
I want to decide myself who gets something later
Does this suit your question?
You want to benefit a friend, family member, godchild or good cause.
What changes?
A will directs the distribution after your death. You retain your estate during your lifetime and can in principle change your will.
What requires attention?
Protected portions, earlier gifts and the correct identification of the beneficiary must be considered. Also determine what happens if that person dies before you.
More about a will →I want to help someone now
Does this suit your question?
You can part with some of your assets without endangering your housing and care security.
What changes?
A gift transfers assets today. Appropriate conditions can cover certain concerns.
What requires attention?
A gift is in principle irrevocable. A lower tax rate is not a reason to give away money you may still need yourself.
More about giving gifts →I want someone to act if I can no longer do so myself
Does this suit your question?
You want your administration and estate managed by someone you choose.
What changes?
A mandat de protection extrajudiciaire / extrajudicial protection mandate describes who may act for you, when and under what conditions.
What requires attention?
Timely registration, replacement and oversight are essential. Determine separately who may make medical decisions according to patients' rights.
More about an extrajudicial protection mandate →A HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE
A single woman without children receives much help from a friend. She wishes to leave something to her, but preserve her savings today. A will is then an option to explore. If the friend must also be able to manage banking matters in case of incapacity (no longer able to understand and make a certain decision herself), a separate arrangement is needed for that.
What do I ask the notaire?
You do not need to memorise these terms. Bring the questions that suit you. Feel free to ask to see the answer with your own home, your money and the people you want to protect.
Click on a question for an initial explanation or practical tip. You do not need to have an answer to everything yet.
Who inherits according to the law, and who do I want to give a place to myself?
A friend, godchild or informal carer does not inherit solely by personal bond.
Who can manage my affairs if I can no longer do so myself?
Discuss a trusted person, replacement and supervision, separate from your inheritance.
Which old agreements still apply after my previous relationship?
Bring powers of attorney, wills and documents about joint property.
How do I retain sufficient room for my own future?
First review your housing and care needs before deciding to give something away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the single reduction apply to everyone living alone?
No. The Flemish scheme applies under specific conditions for deaths from 1 January 2026. The fiscal meaning of partner and descendants requires separate verification. Beneficiaries must be correctly designated in a will and the reduction must be claimed in the tax return. The clarification from VLABEL about de facto partners, stepchildren and foster children can also be relevant.
Should I immediately replace an old will?
First have the existing will assessed. A change can have consequences for an earlier arrangement, including fiscal. Check names, alternate beneficiaries, earlier gifts and changes in your family.
Bring this to your consultation
- Your will and any extrajudicial protection mandate.
- A simple family overview and the names of those you wish to protect.
- An overview of assets, debts and earlier gifts.
- Your anticipated housing and care needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
FROM READING TO PREPARATION
Already a first answer.
Must I first find all the documents?
You can already ask your question with what you have. Note which agreements you remember and what has changed since. Using the checklist on this page, you can see what to gather and what still needs to be discussed with the office.
How do I prepare a conversation with my relatives?
First explain what you want to achieve or avoid. Give everyone space to express expectations and practical limits. Note what you agree on and which questions remain open, so that the conversation also takes into account who bears the consequences.
What if I am unsure between different solutions?
Write down for each option what you hope to achieve and what you do not yet understand. Bring existing documents. The consultation is meant to compare possibilities and consequences with your own situation before making a choice.
EASY PREPARATION
Your checklist: personal wealth and succession advice
Which documents do you prepare, where do you find them and when can the office assist? Indicate what you have and where you need support.
Useful websites on this topic
RELIABLE CONTINUED READING
FROM FIRST QUESTION TO NEXT STEP
You do not have to figure it out alone.
First your situation
Explain what is happening, who is involved and what you want to avoid.
Weighing possibilities
We discuss your questions, the available documents and the consequences of possible choices.
Your Next Step
We record what you want to have prepared and what follow-up is appropriate.
You save this for your own consultation. The office does not receive anything via this button.