Goncalo
Lawyer · Lagos, Portugal
- 55 cases handled · 1 in this service
- 7+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French
- Degree in Law, Universidade de Lisboa
Dealing with a Death Abroad in Portugal
When a foreign national dies in Portugal the family abroad faces the registration of the death, the certificate, a funeral or repatriation and, soon after, the estate. English-speaking lawyers coordinate the funeral agency, the registry and the consulate and act under a power of attorney so that nobody has to fly in for every signature.
About Dealing with a Death Abroad in Portugal
Dealing with a death abroad, when someone dies in Portugal (also death of a relative in Portugal, death certificate from Portugal, repatriation of remains, what to do when a family member dies in Portugal; in Portuguese assento de óbito, certidão de óbito and trasladação de restos mortais) covers the first days after the death of a foreign national in Portugal and the paperwork that follows. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Managing the Death Abroad of a Loved one”. The family is usually far away, does not speak Portuguese and has to decide quickly about a funeral or repatriation while the estate waits.
Who it is for
Relatives of a foreign resident, tourist or second-home owner who died in Portugal; executors or heirs living abroad who need Portuguese documents; and families dealing at the same time with a Portuguese property, bank account or car left behind.
How it works in Portugal
The death is certified by a doctor and, where the cause is unclear or the death was sudden, the public prosecutor may order an autopsy before the body is released. The death is then registered at the civil registry (Conservatória do Registo Civil), normally through the funeral agency (agência funerária), which produces the assento de óbito; certified copies and a multilingual version of the death certificate can be requested for use abroad. The Portuguese certificate does not state the cause of death, which some foreign authorities and insurers ask for separately. If the body or the ashes are to be taken home, the funeral agency obtains the transport documents, which involve the public prosecutor's office, the health and police authorities and the consulate of the deceased's country; travel or life insurance, when it exists, often appoints its own funeral director. After that the estate begins: the search for a will, the identification of the heirs and the Portuguese stamp duty declaration.
What to watch for
- Contacting the insurer and the consulate first: both can take over practical steps and costs.
- Nothing in Portugal is signed on behalf of the estate before the heirs are formally identified.
- Bank accounts are frozen on notification of the death, while direct debits for the property keep running.
- Documents produced in Portugal need an apostille to be used in most other countries, and foreign documents need one to be used in Portugal.
What a lawyer does
An English-speaking lawyer liaises with the funeral agency, the registry and the consulate, obtains the certificates and translations, explains how the Portuguese inheritance process will run and starts it, deals with the bank account of the deceased and acts for the family under a power of attorney so that nobody has to fly in for every signature. Related: birth, marriage and death certificates.
Questions and answers
Does the family have to come to Portugal?
Not necessarily. The funeral agency and a lawyer with a power of attorney can handle the registration, the repatriation and the first estate steps.
Is a Portuguese death certificate accepted abroad?
Generally yes, as a multilingual extract or with an apostille and translation; the receiving authority decides which form it wants.
Who pays for repatriation?
The family, unless an insurance policy or an employer's scheme covers it; consulates give information but do not normally pay.
What happens to the property and the car?
They pass to the heirs through the inheritance procedure; until then the head of the estate manages them and the taxes keep falling due.
3 lawyers who provide Dealing with a Death Abroad in Portugal
Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.
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Teresa
Lawyer · Faro, Portugal
- 948 cases handled
- 16+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Portuguese, French
- Law, Coimbra University
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4.99(60 reviews)
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Carolina
Lawyer · Lisbon, Portugal
- 366 cases handled
- 4+ years in practice
- Speaks: Spanish, English, Portuguese
- Law, University of Coimbra
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4.91(11 reviews)
Contact form · a chat with a lawyer
Talk to a lawyer about Dealing with a Death Abroad
3 registered lawyers provide this service in Portugal. Describe your situation in a short chat — what happened, where, and how to reach you. Your enquiry is reviewed and passed to a lawyer who handles exactly this kind of case, with no obligation.
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Enquiries are answered by lawyers of AdvocateAbroad. This site provides legal information, not legal advice.
What our clients say about our service in Portugal
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A Google search led me to this service when I needed legal help in Lithuania. The lawyer offered a well-informed opinion along with a quote for the fees, the job was done efficiently and effectively, and the solution to my problem pleased me.
— David11 Mar 2024Dealing with a Death Abroad -
Her service was first class, the best I could have hoped for. She was helpful at every turn and happily explained whatever I had not understood, and I was completely satisfied with the outcome. The survey cannot capture the extent of what she did for my family. Her grasp of her field, and explaining everything in both Portuguese and English, is amazing. I am deeply grateful.
— Sonia07 May 2026 -
A very nice lawyer who helped me quickly solve the problems I presented. She also introduced me to the various things one must have as a resident in Portugal and helped me sort them out. Her English was perfect, and I am very pleased with the help I received.
— Fernando12 Jun 2021 -
I am very pleased with the services provided. The lawyer helped me find my way through the peculiarities of the Portuguese inheritance system and, later, its real estate system. She was careful to point out where the UK and Portugal differ, so that I would be aware of it. Everything was settled on time and to my complete satisfaction; she did an excellent job, and the help I received could not have been better. I would definitely choose her as my lawyer for anything relating to Portugal, and she would get full marks from me on every point I was asked to rate. Anyone seeking a legal representative in Portugal can be strongly recommended to her.
— Chris05 May 2026 -
The lawyer is a real professional. He grasped what I needed, carried out his tasks diligently, and answered my requests for updates promptly and courteously. His knowledge of Portuguese law and its bureaucracy was commendable, and his rates were reasonable. I hope he continues to build his clientele, both in Portugal and abroad, above all in the US. He does a very good job, and no improvement is needed. I am completely satisfied.
— Ana14 Oct 2020 -
We found the solutions we needed and are pleased with the result.
— brendan27 Jun 2025 -
She made a potentially complicated, stressful matter simple, and I am very satisfied.
— Janet31 Jul 2023 -
The professionalism far exceeded what I have been used to with similar practices in other European countries. The lawyer was very caring and sensitive in assisting with a very emotional family bereavement in the Algarve.
— Ian07 Sep 2026Assistance with Motor Vehicle Processes, Portugal -
He is an excellent lawyer and a true professional. I used his services on two occasions: first a consultation in the summer of 2025 about the best way for a US citizen like me to get a Portuguese visa, and then, most recently, to get a marriage license in Portugal. Since my wife and I left it quite late, we took him on in a rush, close to the deadline, and he finished everything extremely quickly and helped us collect and translate the required documents. His English is flawless, so we never had trouble understanding him, and communication was great throughout. The whole process was incredibly smooth. He even gave us additional service beyond what we had hired him for, and he made the entire thing stress-free. If you need any legal assistance, I highly recommend him; he is our lawyer of choice in Portugal.
— Ryan19 Mar 2026 -
The lawyer was very supportive and helpful. I feel lucky to have chosen her to assist with what turned out to be a very complicated sale, and her English was perfect. I am very grateful for all her work, help and advice and would highly recommend her to anyone.
— Louise26 Feb 2025 -
Real expertise in her field, good understanding and great communication, finding what works best for her clients. Honest, well spoken, and perfect English.
— Fernando30 Nov 2023 -
The lawyer pulled me out of trouble quickly. What I badly needed was exactly what I got: prompt answers, understanding, good value for money, and the ability to explain matters and propose fitting solutions. His English is flawless as well. For approachability and professionalism he cannot be beaten. For comparison, I have been through three other accountants since settling in Portugal, and none of them achieved much. Two of them gave me wrong advice that ended in fines, and their communication was dreadful. Thanks.
— John02 Nov 2022Fiscal Advice, Portugal