Sucesio Blog
Estate planning & digital legacy for expats in Europe
Practical guides written for real situations — cross-border inheritance, Spanish succession law, crypto assets, and the legacy that matters most to the people you love.
- Spain
What to Do When Someone Dies in Spain: A Step-by-Step Guide for Foreign Families (2026)
From the first phone call to the 6-month deadline: what happens after a death in Spain, in what order, who handles each step and which documents you will need.
Read article → - Compare
Legacy Message Apps for Expats (2026): Sucesio vs Polinc vs Paige
Personal legacy messages for loved ones, compared for expat families: Sucesio, Polinc (Proof of Life) and Paige. Delivery triggers, languages and cross-border reach, including where Sucesio is not the right fit.
Read article → - Crypto
NFT Inheritance for Expats in Europe: What Happens to Your Digital Collectibles When You Die Abroad
NFTs, ENS domains and on-chain art never show up in probate. How expats in Spain, Portugal and France can value, document and transmit digital collectibles under EU Regulation 650/2012.
Read article → - Digital
Digital Legacy for British Expats in Spain: The Post-Brexit Guide (2026)
UK bank apps, NS&I, pensions, crypto, iCloud — what happens to a British expat's digital life in Spain after death, and how to organise it before your family has to.
Read article → - Germany
Is Your Berliner Testament Valid in Spain? A Guide for German Expats
Moved to Spain with a German joint will? How EU Regulation 650/2012, Spanish forced heirship and inheritance tax affect your Berliner Testament, and how to secure your plan.
Read article → - Spain
Cross-Border Succession in Spain: A Guide for Expats (2026 Update)
How Brussels IV Regulation 650/2012 shapes your inheritance if you're an expat in Spain — choice of law, forced heirship traps, and the practical checklist most people miss.
Read article → - Spain
Pension Inheritance for Expats in Spain: How Your Plan de Pensiones, SIPP, and PER Pass to Loved Ones (2026)
Your UK SIPP, French PER, and Spanish Plan de Pensiones each follow different inheritance rules — and none of them follow your will. A calm, practical guide for expats in Spain.
Read article → - Crypto
Crypto Inheritance for Expats in Spain: How to Pass On Wallets, Keys and Exchange Accounts Under the 2026 Rules
DAC8 makes your crypto visible to the Agencia Tributaria, but your heirs still need the keys. How expats in Spain can organise wallets, staked positions and exchange accounts for succession under the 2026 rules.
Read article → - Spain
How to Accept an Inheritance in Spain as a Foreign Heir
In Spain, inheriting isn't automatic - you must sign a notarial deed of acceptance. A clear guide for foreign heirs on the escritura, powers of attorney, and how to protect yourself from inherited debt.
Read article → - Spain
Reclaiming Overpaid Spanish Inheritance Tax: A Refund Guide for Non-Resident Heirs
Non-resident heirs who overpaid Spanish inheritance tax may be able to reclaim it. A step-by-step 2026 guide to the refund process, the CJEU ruling, deadlines and the paperwork you need.
Read article → - Portugal
Estate Planning for British Expats in Portugal: What Brexit Changed and What Didn't
A clear, reassuring guide for British expats in Portugal: EU Regulation 650/2012, Portuguese legitima, UK domicile and IHT, Imposto do Selo, and protecting digital assets after Brexit.
Read article → - Spain
Estate Planning for Italian Expats in Spain: What Changes When You Cross the Border
Italy taxes inheritance lightly; Spain does not. A clear, reassuring guide for Italian expats in Spain on EU succession law, legittima vs legitima, ISD and protecting digital assets.
Read article → - Europe
Cross-Border Inheritance for Expats in Luxembourg: The 2026 Guide
A clear guide for expats and frontaliers in Luxembourg: EU Regulation 650/2012, the reserve hereditaire, Luxembourg inheritance duties, the residence question, and protecting multi-jurisdiction assets.
Read article → - Spain
Beneficiary Designations vs Your Will: The Silent Estate Planning Mistake Expats in Spain Keep Making (2026)
Life insurance, pension plans, bank accounts - beneficiary designations override your will. A guide for expats in Spain on how to avoid the mistake that costs families in court.
Read article → - Europe
Digital Account Inheritance for Expats in Europe: The Complete 2026 Playbook
How expats in Europe pass on Apple, Google, password managers and crypto when they die abroad. The 2026 playbook connecting each platform's legacy tool to a plan that works cross-border.
Read article → - Spain
Cross-Border Succession for Expat Clients in Spain: A Wealth Manager's Guide
How wealth managers and family offices can protect expat clients in Spain across EU succession law, ISD, digital assets and the estate-location gap. A 2026 advisory guide.
Read article → - Spain
How to Release Funds from a Frozen Spanish Bank Account Before Paying Inheritance Tax
A Spanish bank freezes the account the moment it learns of a death. You can release part of the money for urgent costs, like funeral bills and mortgage payments, before settling the whole inheritance tax.
Read article → - Spain
How to Get a NIE Number as a Foreign Heir in Spain (2026 Guide)
You can't pay inheritance tax, unblock the bank or register inherited property in Spain without a NIE. The three ways foreign heirs get one — without flying to Spain.
Read article → - Digital
Why Every Expat Needs an Asset and Liability Inventory (Not Just a Will)
A will decides who inherits — not what exists or where to find it. Why expats in Europe need an up-to-date inventory of their assets and liabilities, with digital assets like crypto and online accounts given the place they deserve.
Read article → - Inheritance
Certificate of Last Wills in Spain: The First Step for Foreign Heirs
Every Spanish notary and bank asks foreign heirs for the Certificado de Ultimas Voluntades first. Here is what it is, the 15-business-day rule, and how to request it from abroad.
Read article → - Spain
How to Access a Deceased's Bank Account in Spain
A Spanish bank froze the account after a death? The documents needed, the step-by-step process, and the inheritance-tax deadline expat heirs must not miss.
Read article → - Notary
Bilingual Notary in Spain for Inheritance: The Complete Expat Guide (2026)
Find a bilingual notary in Spain for inheritance: roles, fees (RD 1426/1989), apostille, traducción jurada, poder notarial — the 2026 expat guide.
Read article → - Compare
Digital Legacy Platforms for Expats in Spain (2026): Sucesio vs Arkakey vs Mi Legado Digital
Sucesio vs Arkakey vs Mi Legado Digital: three digital legacy platforms compared for Spain. LOPDGDD compliance, crypto, cross-border, insurance partnerships.
Read article → - Germany
Nachlass deutscher Expats in Portugal (2026): Erbschaft, Steuer und Notar
Nachlass deutscher Expats in Portugal: EU-ErbVO, Imposto do Selo, Erbschein vs ENZ, Habilitação de Herdeiros, NIF und praktische Schritte für Erben.
Read article → - Crypto
Hardware Wallet Inheritance: Ledger, Trezor, Coldcard, BitBox & KeepKey for Expat Families (2026)
Hardware wallet inheritance for expat families: Ledger, Trezor SLIP-0039, Coldcard, BitBox, KeepKey. Metal backup, multi-sig, cross-border heirs explained.
Read article → - Crypto
Crypto Inheritance Tax in France for Expats: The 2026 Guide
How is cryptocurrency taxed in a French inheritance? Réserve héréditaire, droits de succession allowances and rates, and what expats must do so their crypto reaches their heirs.
Read article → - Crypto
The 7-Step Crypto Inheritance Plan for European Expats
A practical 7-step plan for European expats to make sure their crypto reaches their heirs — with country-specific deep dives for Spain, Portugal and France.
Read article → - Legacy
How to Leave Posthumous Messages for Family Living Abroad
A practical guide for expats: how to write, record and reliably deliver posthumous messages to family living in another country.
Read article → - Legacy
What Happens to Your Personal Messages If You Die Abroad?
Phones lock, cloud accounts freeze, messages vanish. What really happens to your photos and personal messages if you die abroad, and how to prevent it.
Read article → - Legacy
How to Write a Letter to Your Loved Ones Before You Die
What to write, and how: a craft guide for expats writing a letter to loved ones before they die, with prompts, structure and examples.
Read article → - Compare
Inheritans Alternative: Digital Legacy for Expat Families
Looking for an Inheritans alternative? An honest comparison of digital legacy options for expats: posthumous messages vs a full cross-border vault.
Read article → - Legacy
How to Preserve Family Recipes as an Expat
How to preserve family recipes as an expat: document the story, the technique and the meaning so the dishes survive across borders. Template included.
Read article → - Legacy
Digital Memory Box for Expat Families: What to Include
What to include in a digital memory box for expat families: a complete checklist of photos, recordings, letters and memories, and how to make it reachable.
Read article → - Legacy
How to Deliver Messages After Death Across Borders
How posthumous messages are delivered after death: triggers, death verification and cross-border delivery options explained for expats.
Read article → - Compare
Sucesio vs DGLegacy: Which Digital Legacy Service for Expats in Europe? (2026)
Two European platforms compared on 12 criteria — expat-focus, languages, EU 650/2012, personal legacy, notary alignment.
Read article → - Legal
How to Register a Foreign Will in Spain as an Expat (2026)
The complete operational guide for British, Irish, Dutch and German expats in Spain: apostille, sworn translation, Spanish notary, Registro General de Actos de Última Voluntad — and what your heirs actually need on day one.
Read article → - Spain
Estate Planning for Expats in Catalonia: Distinct Succession Regime Explained (2026)
Catalonia's Codi Civil sets it apart from the rest of Spain — reduced legítima (25%), pacte successori, distinct inheritance tax. A practical 2026 guide for expat Barcelona.
Read article → - Spain
Estate Planning for Expats in Andalucía: The 99% Bonification Advantage (2026)
How the Decreto-Ley 1/2019 reform changed the game for expat heirs in Marbella, Málaga and the Costa del Sol — practical guide with three real expat scenarios.
Read article → - Compare
Best Digital Legacy Platforms for Expats in Europe (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of the 5 leading digital legacy platforms for European expat families: Sucesio, DeathNote, Vaultify, DGLegacy and Henedo. Cross-border focus, GDPR, multilingual support, and notary alignment.
Read article → - EU Law
Cross-Border Inheritance in Europe: A Practical Guide for Expats with Assets in Multiple Countries
EU Regulation 650/2012, the European Certificate of Succession, tax interactions, and the five real situations expats face — a clear guide to cross-border succession in Europe, written for families whose lives already span borders.
Read article → - Crypto
Your Coinbase or Binance Account After Death: What Expats in Europe Need to Know
Most expats in Europe have crypto sitting on exchanges — but few have planned for what happens to those accounts when they die. How Coinbase, Binance and Kraken handle inheritance for expat estates, and what to do now.
Read article → - EU Law
European Succession Certificate for Expats in Portugal: What You Need to Know
Learn how the European Succession Certificate works for expats in Portugal — who issues it, how to apply, and how it simplifies cross-border inheritance under EU Regulation 650/2012.
Read article → - Portugal
Portuguese Will vs Foreign Will for Expats in Portugal: Which Do You Need?
Should expats in Portugal make a Portuguese will or rely on their home-country will? A practical comparison of validity, costs, and what works best for cross-border families.
Read article → - Fiscal
Double Taxation on Inheritance in Portugal for Expats: How to Navigate It
Can inheritance from Portugal be taxed in two countries? Understanding Portugal's inheritance tax, EU Regulation 650/2012, and double taxation relief for expats.
Read article → - Crypto
Crypto Inheritance and Tax in Portugal for Expats: What You Need to Know
How are crypto assets taxed on inheritance in Portugal? Direct heirs are fully exempt. Here's what expats need to know about crypto succession planning in Portugal.
Read article → - Portugal
Living Will in Portugal for Expats: How to Make a Testamento Vital
Everything expats in Portugal need to know about the living will (testamento vital) — how to make one, register it with RENTEV, and why it matters more than you think.
Read article → - Portugal
Inheritance Rights of a Surviving Spouse in Portugal: A Guide for Expats
What are the inheritance rights of a surviving spouse in Portugal? Protected shares, tax exemptions, and what expats need to know about the 2018 Civil Code reform.
Read article → - EU Law
The European Certificate of Succession: What Expats in Spain Need to Know (2026)
The European Certificate of Succession lets heirs prove their status across EU borders without extra formalities. How it works, who issues it, and why expats in Spain need it.
Read article → - Fiscal
Double Taxation on Inheritance in Spain: The Expat Guide (2026)
Can you be taxed on the same inheritance in Spain and another country? How double inheritance taxation works, which treaties apply, and how expats can avoid paying twice.
Read article → - Crypto
Crypto Inheritance Tax in Spain for Expats: The 2026 Guide
How is cryptocurrency taxed in a Spanish inheritance? Rates, valuation rules, and what expats must do to ensure their crypto reaches their heirs legally and practically.
Read article → - Spain
Living Will in Spain for Expats: Advance Directives and Healthcare Decisions (2026)
A living will (testamento vital) in Spain lets you specify your medical wishes if you become incapacitated. How it works, how to make one as an expat, and why it matters.
Read article → - Spain
Inheritance Rights of a Surviving Spouse in Spain: The Expat Guide (2026)
What does a surviving spouse inherit in Spain? Usufruct, legítima, forced heirship rules — and how they apply to expat couples in Spain with assets in multiple countries.
Read article → - Digital
Digital Assets Inheritance in Europe: A Guide for Expats
How crypto, online accounts, and digital wealth are treated under European succession law. What expats need to know to ensure their digital assets reach their heirs.
Read article → - Digital
How to Pass On Passwords and Accounts When You Die: A Practical Guide
How to securely transmit your passwords, accounts, and digital access to your heirs. Practical steps for expats using password managers and platform death tools.
Read article → - B2B
Cross-Border Digital Succession for Family Offices: Closing the Digital Asset Gap
Family offices managing multi-jurisdictional expat estates face a growing blind spot: digital assets, crypto, and personal legacy that exist outside any investment mandate or legal instrument.
Read article → - EU Law
What Happens to Your Assets When You Die Abroad? A Guide for Expats
If you die as an expat in Spain or Europe, who inherits your assets? Which law applies? What your heirs must do — a practical guide to cross-border succession.
Read article → - B2B
Digital Succession Planning for Wealth Managers Serving Expats in Europe
Expat clients’ digital assets — crypto, exchange accounts, password-protected platforms — fall outside traditional wealth management mandates. Here is how to close the gap.
Read article → - B2B
Digital Asset Succession: What Notaries Handling Expat Estates in Spain and Portugal Need to Know
How notaries managing cross-border estates can address the digital asset gap: crypto, online accounts, and personal digital legacy that no traditional inventory captures.
Read article → - Notary
Notary in Spain for Inheritance: What Expats Need to Know
The role of the Spanish notary in inheritance proceedings for expats. What the notario does, what documents you need, how to find one, and what it costs.
Read article → - Digital
Digital Legacy for Expats in Spain: How to Secure and Pass On Your Digital Assets
Crypto wallets, passwords, cloud accounts, personal messages — how expats in Spain can ensure their digital life is transmitted to the right heirs after death. The part of your estate your notary cannot handle.
Read article → - Spain
Estate Planning for Expats in Spain: The Complete 2026 Guide
Living in Spain as an expat? Discover how Spanish succession law works, what inheritance tax you'll owe, and how to protect your family with a clear, cross-border estate plan.
Read article → - Crypto
Crypto Inheritance for Expats in Europe: What Happens to Your Bitcoin When You Die?
Cryptocurrency doesn't appear in a Spanish will. If your heirs don't have your private keys, those assets are gone. Here's how expats in Europe can plan crypto inheritance properly.
Read article → - Property
How to Inherit Property in Spain as a Foreigner: A Step-by-Step Guide
Inheriting a property in Spain as a non-resident is a multi-step legal and tax process. This guide walks you through every stage — from obtaining the death certificate to registering the property in your name.
Read article → - EU Law
EU Regulation 650/2012 Explained for Expats in Spain
Brussels IV changed everything for expats with cross-border estates. Understand what it means for your succession plan — and the one choice in your will that makes all the difference.
Read article → - Legacy
Beyond the Will: Leaving a Personal Legacy for Your Family Across Borders
A will transfers assets. It doesn't transfer who you were. For expats living far from home, intentional personal legacy planning — messages, memories, family knowledge — is the part that matters most to the people you leave behind.
Read article → - France
Estate Planning for French Expats in Spain: The 2026 Guide
French expats in Spain face a uniquely complex estate planning situation — réserve héréditaire, assurance-vie, a bilateral tax treaty, and two sets of forced heirship rules. Here is what you need to know.
Read article → - Germany
Estate Planning for German Expats in Spain: The 2026 Guide
Germany has Pflichtteil, Spain has legítima — and if you live in Mallorca or Barcelona, both may apply to your estate. A practical guide for German expats navigating cross-border succession.
Read article → - UK
Estate Planning for British Expats in Spain: The 2026 Guide
Brexit changed the rules. UK domicile is a hidden trap. And your ISA loses its tax-exempt status the moment you move to Spain. A practical guide for British expats navigating succession on both sides of the Channel.
Read article → - Netherlands
Estate Planning for Dutch Expats in Spain: The 2026 Guide
Dutch expats in Spain face a 10-year erfbelasting rule, a legitieme portie that works like German Pflichtteil, and a wettelijke verdeling that Spanish courts barely recognise. Here is how to plan properly.
Read article → - Belgium
Estate Planning for Belgian Expats in Spain: The 2026 Guide
Belgium has three different regional inheritance tax regimes. Your Tak 21 may be taxed twice. And your réserve héréditaire follows you to Spain if you elect Belgian law. A practical guide for Belgian expats.
Read article → - Fiscal
Succession Tax in Spain for Foreigners: Rates, Exemptions & How to Reduce It
How inheritance tax works in Spain for non-residents and foreigners — regional rates, EU citizen exemptions, and practical strategies to reduce the tax burden on your heirs.
Read article → - Legal
How to Make a Will in Spain as a Foreigner: A Step-by-Step Guide
Everything you need to know about making a valid will in Spain as a foreign national — notary process, language requirements, EU Regulation 650/2012, and what to include.
Read article → - Portugal
Estate Planning for Expats in Portugal: The 2026 Guide
Portugal has no inheritance tax between direct relatives — but stamp duty, NHR status, and cross-border succession rules create complexity for expats. A practical guide for 2026.
Read article → - Switzerland
Estate Planning for Swiss Expats in Spain: The 2026 Guide
Swiss expats in Spain face a unique combination of cantonal inheritance rules, the Spain-Switzerland tax treaty, and EU succession law. Here is how to navigate it.
Read article → - Legal
Power of Attorney in Spain for Expats: What You Need and How to Get It
A poder notarial is essential for expats managing property, banking, or legal matters in Spain remotely. Here is how to set one up correctly — from abroad or in person.
Read article → - USA
Estate Planning for American Expats in Spain: The 2026 Guide
US citizens in Spain face FATCA reporting, US estate tax on worldwide assets, and Spain's succession law simultaneously. A practical guide to cross-border estate planning for Americans.
Read article → - Ireland
Estate Planning for Irish Expats in Spain: The 2026 Guide
Irish expats in Spain navigate CAT, Spanish succession tax, and post-Brexit rules. A practical guide to protecting your estate across both jurisdictions.
Read article → - Spain
Estate Planning Checklist for Expats in Spain: 12 Steps to Protect Your Family
A practical, actionable checklist covering every step expats in Spain need to take — from making a will to organising digital assets and designating heirs.
Read article → - Finance
Life Insurance in Spain for Expats: Inheritance Planning & Tax Implications
How life insurance works in Spanish estate planning — beneficiary designations, inheritance tax exemptions, and how expats can use policies to protect their families.
Read article → - Scandinavia
Estate Planning for Scandinavian Expats in Spain: The 2026 Guide
Swedish, Norwegian and Danish expats in Spain face unique succession rules, bilateral treaties, and the interaction between Nordic forced heirship and Spanish law.
Read article → - Legal
Inheritance Rights for Unmarried Partners in Spain: What Expats Must Know
Unmarried partners have almost no automatic inheritance rights in Spain. Here is what expats in relationships need to do to protect each other — and what varies by region.
Read article → - Property
Selling Inherited Property in Spain as a Foreigner: Taxes, Steps & Pitfalls
Inherited a property in Spain as a non-resident? Here is what you need to know about capital gains tax, plusvalía, NIE numbers, and the full selling process.
Read article → - Finance
Pension Inheritance for Expats in Europe: What Happens to Your Retirement Savings?
What happens to your UK pension, French retraite or German Rentenversicherung when you die as an expat in Spain? A cross-border guide to pension inheritance rules.
Read article → - Property
Joint Property Ownership in Spain for Expats: Inheritance Implications
How joint property ownership works in Spain — community of property, proindiviso, and what happens to your share when you or your partner dies as a foreign national.
Read article → - Digital
Estate Planning for Digital Nomads in Europe: No Fixed Address, Real Assets
Digital nomads have complex estate planning needs — no fixed tax residency, assets across multiple countries, and crypto holdings. Here is how to plan properly.
Read article →