Make a Will (Last Will & Testament) in Bulgaria

Lawyers who help foreigners make a last will and testament for property in Bulgaria, explain the notarial and the handwritten form and the share the law keeps for close family, and fit a Bulgarian will with one made at home.
lawyer in Bulgaria
1
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4
clients' rating in Bulgaria
5.00 ★

About Make a Will (Last Will & Testament) in Bulgaria

Making a will in Bulgaria, a last will and testament for a home, a flat, land or savings in the country, is the subject of this page. In Bulgarian the will is the zaveshtanie (завещание). Most foreigners choose the notarialno zaveshtanie (нотариално завещание), the notarial will made before a notary (notarius); the samorachno zaveshtanie (саморъчно завещание) is the handwritten, or holographic, will. Bulgarian law also keeps a zapazena chast (запазена част), a reserved share, for the closest family. The page is for owners of property in Bulgaria, expats who live there and anyone with assets in two countries. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Make a last Will & Testament”.

Who usually needs it

Foreign owners of a holiday apartment or a village house, people who have moved to Bulgaria, couples who want the surviving partner to keep the home, and families with children from different relationships. A will made in another country may still be valid in Bulgaria, but heirs often find a separate Bulgarian will for the Bulgarian property easier to use at the notary and at the property register.

How a will is made in Bulgaria

  • Notarial will: the testator states the wishes to a notary, who writes them down and reads them out in the presence of witnesses. A person who does not speak Bulgarian takes part with an interpreter.
  • Handwritten will: written by hand from beginning to end, dated and signed by the testator. It can be kept privately or handed to a notary in a sealed envelope; after the death a notary opens and announces it (obyavyavane).

Bulgaria applies the EU succession rules, so a foreigner can usually choose in the will the law of the country of nationality. Whether that choice helps, and how it sits with the reserved share, depends on the family and the assets.

Points to watch

A will cannot take away the reserved share of a spouse, children or, where there are no descendants, parents, and gifts made during life can be counted against it. Non-EU citizens face limits on owning land in Bulgaria, which can affect what a non-EU heir receives under a will. Two wills in two countries have to be worded so that the later one does not cancel the earlier one by accident.

What a lawyer does

A lawyer explains which law applies, prepares the wording with the notary, checks the will against the reserved share and against an earlier will made abroad, and keeps the property papers in order for the heirs. What happens after a death is described under inheritance in Bulgaria; a will that heirs dispute is covered by contesting a will. A property can also pass during life, see property title transfer.

Questions and answers

Is a will made in my home country valid in Bulgaria?

Often yes, if it meets the form rules of the place where it was made or of the testator's nationality. Heirs may still need translations, an apostille and extra steps, which a Bulgarian will for the Bulgarian property can make simpler.

Can I leave everything to my partner?

Only within the part of the estate that is not reserved. Children and, in some situations, parents keep a reserved share that a will cannot remove.

Does a handwritten will need a notary?

Not to be valid, but a handwritten will kept at home can be lost or questioned. Handing it to a notary in a sealed envelope keeps it safe and on record.

Is there a register of wills in Bulgaria?

Yes. Wills handed to a notary are recorded, which lets heirs find out after a death whether a will exists.

Can I change my will later?

Yes. A later will can revoke an earlier one in whole or in part, in either of the two forms.

1 lawyer who provides Make a Will (Last Will & Testament) in Bulgaria

Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.

  • Rositsa, lawyer in Sofia

    Rositsa

    Lawyer · Sofia, Bulgaria

    • 99 cases handled · 4 in this service
    • 14+ years in practice
    • Speaks: Bulgarian, English
    • M.L. Law, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
    • 5.00(1 review)
    Contact Rositsa
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What our clients say about our service in Bulgaria

  • In 2021 my wife and I moved from America to Spain, where we found out that Spanish law required each of us to have a will if one of us died, so the survivor could reach the cash in our Spanish bank accounts. In 2025 we contacted the lawyer to get this done. She speaks good English and carried out the task expertly and efficiently, even joining us at the notary's office to finalize the paperwork. We were so pleased that we also hired her for our Spanish taxes for 2025. They were done perfectly too, and we even received a refund. I would definitely recommend her for any need under Spanish law. The fees were very reasonable and well earned.
    — Lucky
    17 Aug 2026
    Make a Will (Last Will & Testament)
  • She was always very helpful, and I would recommend her.
    — Jeffrey
    07 Jul 2026
  • Professional advice sorted out all my requests; I am very satisfied.
    — Michael
    03 Jul 2026
  • The lawyer was exemplary. A matter concerning a will needed immediate attention during my stay in the country, and he handled the legal review, the notarial consultation and the procurement of witnesses fast, reliably and efficiently, with professional expertise. When you need legal advice in Portugal, he is the person to go to.
    — Steve
    11 Jun 2026
    Make a Will (Last Will & Testament)
  • The lawyer in Oviedo gave us great service, with a professional and friendly manner. His English is excellent, and he planned everything well, including the help with the notary. Thank you!
    — Goe
    30 Jan 2026
    Make a Will (Last Will & Testament)
  • The lawyer has helped my family for many years, always fantastic and consistent, with good communication throughout. She is very professional and knowledgeable, and always on hand to answer questions and offer good advice. I would recommend her; she is first class.
    — Kate
    10 Dec 2025
    Make a Will (Last Will & Testament)
  • What a service! The lawyer is by far the most professional, thorough and helpful lawyer or solicitor I have dealt with, and my international affairs mean I have worked with plenty. When we wanted our wills drawn up, we did not want them under Spanish law. He saw to it that they were prepared and secured under the laws of our home countries and yet fully valid here in Gran Canaria under Spanish law. My wife is 78 and needed to sell her apartment while keeping the right to live in it for the rest of her life (at least 30 years), at an agreed lower rent and with usufruct rights, so that she would get cash from the sale without losing her home. He sorted that out too. He arranged everything, the notary included, and provided us with English translations of the Spanish contract. I cannot stress enough that he was available at any time by phone, email or WhatsApp. He even went through everything with us at the notary's office, and whenever something was unclear or not in our favour, he had it redrafted again and again. His integrity, professionalism and commitment to his clients are the best I have ever met. If you need a lawyer in Gran Canaria who speaks excellent English and keeps cool under the heaviest pressure, he is the one to have beside you. Simply the best is what you get, as the song says. If you fear he will be expensive, there is no need: I paid more in the UK and Germany, among other countries where I needed legal representation. Both my British wife and I have hired him several times by now, and we will always keep returning to him, whatever else comes up. This review is long, I know, but I could say much more about his superb work. If you are not yet convinced, there is nothing more I can say. Until next time, to a legal-knowledge computer on two legs, and a wonderful one!
    — Michael
    27 Jun 2025
    Make a Will (Last Will & Testament)
  • She was very professional and knowledgeable about the law, and also kind and empathetic when we discussed my options on a very personal point. The assistance was excellent and I would recommend her without hesitation.
    — Jennifer
    29 May 2025
  • The lawyer was personal and professional while writing and filing my Will. She is friendly, and she could advise me on the complexities of a Will in Portugal and on the legal requirements, which differ from those of Australia, where I am a national.
    — Michael
    24 Mar 2025
    Make a Will (Last Will & Testament)
  • Friendly, patient and easy to understand.
    — Darren
    26 Feb 2025
    Make a Will (Last Will & Testament)
  • The lawyer handled my request very well, and his English was perfect. I am completely satisfied.
    — Carl
    18 Feb 2025
  • I needed a Will covering my Spanish assets and so returned to the lawyer who had already done an excellent job when we bought our property. She was just as professional this time: she listened to what I needed and then drafted a Will that fitted it. Within days it was all finished, an amazing job. I would gladly use these services again, and without any hesitation.
    — Robert
    27 Jan 2025
    Make a Will (Last Will & Testament)