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- Without a will the law decides (intestate succession, Art. 565 et seq. c.c.); with a will the deceased cannot in any case infringe the share reserved to the spouse, children and, if there are no children, ascendants (forced heirs, Art. 536 et seq. c.c.).
- The reserved share is calculated on the estate left at death, plus the gifts made during life, minus the debts.
- If you were excluded or were left too little, the remedy is the action for reduction; then, among co-heirs, one moves on to division, amicable or judicial.
Updated on October 14, 2026.
When a loved one dies, the family faces very concrete questions: who inherits? In what measure? Can everything be left to a stranger? This guide walks you simply through the rules of inheritance succession, the shares and the tools to enforce your right as an heir.
How succession works: will or law
Succession is the passing of the assets (and debts) of the deceased, technically called the de cuius, to his or her heirs. It can occur in two ways:
- With a will (testamentary succession): the deceased decided to whom to leave his or her assets.
- Without a will (intestate succession): the law establishes who inherits and in which share, based on kinship.
A point often overlooked: before death the future heirs have no right whatsoever. They cannot claim anything or prevent the assets from being sold or given away. The right of an heir arises only when the person dies.
Who the forced heirs are, the heirs who cannot be excluded
The law balances two interests: the freedom of the deceased to dispose of his or her assets and the protection of the closest relatives. For this reason it reserves a share to the latter, even against the will expressed in the will. This is forced succession. The forced heirs are:
- the spouse (or the party to a civil union);
- the children, with no difference between children born within marriage, outside marriage or adopted;
- the ascendants (parents, grandparents), but only if the deceased leaves no children.
Do not confuse the two expressions: intestate succession occurs when there is no will; forced succession protects close relatives even when a will exists.
The shares established by law in the most common cases
The share reserved to the forced heirs (with a will)
- Only the spouse: half of the estate. The spouse is also entitled to the right of habitation over the family home and to the use of the furniture that furnishes it, even if the house is divided with other heirs.
- Only one child: half of the estate; one third if there is also the spouse (who gets another third).
- Several children: two thirds to be divided among them; half if there is also the spouse (who has a quarter).
- Only ascendants (no children): one third; if there is also the spouse, the spouse is entitled to half and the ascendants to a quarter.
The remaining part is the disposable portion: the deceased could allocate it to whomever he or she wanted (a friend, a charity). It is never less than a quarter of the estate.
The shares without a will (intestate succession)
- Spouse with no children or other close relatives: inherits everything.
- Spouse with only one child: half each; with several children, one third to the spouse and two thirds to the children.
- Spouse with ascendants or brothers and sisters: two thirds to the spouse and one third to the others.
In the absence of spouse and children one looks to the other relatives in the order established by law. For the specific case, the percentages must also always be checked against the family tree.
Learn more in the guide on succession without a will and the heirs’ shares and in the one on reserved shares.
How the reserved share is calculated
The inheritance is not only what remains in the bank account at death. The calculation follows three steps:
- one starts from the estate left at death (relictum);
- the value of the gifts made during life (donatum) is added;
- the debts are deducted.
The result is the mass to which the fractions seen above are applied. It is enough to get the reconstruction of the estate wrong, for example by forgetting a gift, to lose money or rights.
Separation, divorce and renunciation
- Separated spouse: if the separation was not attributed to his or her fault, he or she keeps the succession rights like a non-separated spouse.
- Divorced spouse: with the divorce he or she loses the rights over the inheritance. If in a state of need and receiving the divorce allowance, he or she may ask the judge for a periodic allowance chargeable to the estate, which is not a share of ownership.
- Renunciation by an heir: his or her part does not disappear; it increases the share of the others or changes the percentages of division, so the calculation must be redone carefully.
Excluded forced heir: the action for reduction
If a parent does not name a child in the will, or has given almost everything to only one of the children, that child is a pretermitted forced heir. His or her protection depends on what he or she has already received:
- if the gifts received during life equal the value of his or her reserved share, there is nothing to complain about;
- if he or she has received nothing or too little, he or she must take legal action.
The tool is the action for reduction (Art. 553 et seq. c.c.), by which one asks to reduce the testamentary provisions and the gifts that infringe the reserved share. The excluded person does not automatically become the owner of the assets: until he or she obtains the reduction he or she cannot ask for division or claim to check what has been given away. For the details read the guide on reserved share and action for reduction.
Accepting the inheritance without surprises
The inheritance also includes debts. Accepting it without checks, especially tacitly and without benefit of inventory, can make you liable with your own assets. Before deciding, check whether there are hidden debts and read how acceptance and inheritance with benefit of inventory work and the deadlines for accepting.
Situations that complicate the inheritance
Fictitious registrations and simulated sales
Sometimes an asset does not appear in the estate because it was registered in the name of a relative while remaining in fact the deceased’s, or because it was “sold” to a child without the price ever being paid (a disguised gift). An attentive heir must be able to identify these cases, but evidence is needed and one must move in time: there are limitation periods after which the right is lost.
House used for years by a relative: adverse possession
If a relative has lived for decades in the family home behaving as the owner, without opposition, he or she might claim to have acquired it by adverse possession (possession continued over time). Being right is not enough: documents and evidence are needed on who paid for works and expenses.
Accounts blocked by the bank
After a death banks often block the accounts, ask for many documents and may miscalculate the sums due to the heirs or deny access to the data. If the delays become unjustified one can intervene with formal notices and, if necessary, with an action against the bank. Keep every request made and every reply received.
The division of the inherited assets
With several heirs each one initially has an abstract share (“one third of everything”). Division turns it into concrete assets, and it can occur in two ways:
- Amicable division: all agree, and it is signed before a notary. It is the quickest and cheapest route.
- Judicial division: if the heirs do not agree, the judge decides.
To learn more: division of the estate, a simple guide.
Planning the succession during life
The best way to avoid disputes among the children is to organize one’s succession in time. The tools depend on the composition of the estate:
- Public will: received by the notary, by which one disposes of all or part of the assets for the time of death. The secret will is kept by the notary, who sees to its publication when he or she learns of the death.
- Gift: a gratuitous contract by which another person is enriched out of liberality. It counts in the calculation of the reserved share.
- Trust: an institution of Anglo-Saxon origin: the settlor transfers the assets to a trustee who administers them in the interest of the beneficiaries. The settlor loses every right over the assets transferred, which as a rule can no longer be attacked by his or her creditors.
- Family pact (introduced in 2006): whoever has a business transfers it in advance to one or more heirs to ensure continuity; those not assigned the business are entitled to a payment. As for gift tax, according to the approach referred to, the assignee does not pay it if he or she continues the activity for at least 5 years.
Related guides
The route that usually works best
The possible routes
- Accept the inheritance, with benefit of inventory if you fear debts.
- Bring the action for reduction if your reserved share has been infringed.
- Divide amicably before the notary, or in court if there is no agreement.
- Renounce the inheritance, with effects on the others’ shares.
Which usually works best and why
It depends on the case. One usually starts from the correct calculation of the estate, gifts included, and from a check of the debts before accepting. If all the heirs cooperate, amicable division is quicker and cheaper; if the share has been infringed, acting in time matters.
What to do right away
- Check whether a will exists and gather gifts, accounts and property documents.
- List the relatives entitled to the reserved share.
- Do not withdraw sums or make decisions about the house before checking the debts.
Each situation must be assessed on the documents of the specific case: this indication is not a promise of outcome.
How Attorney Fiorentino can assist you
- Keep a list of the gifts made during life: they count in the calculation of the reserved share.
- Calculate the shares at the time the succession opens.
- If you were excluded from the will do not wait: the action for reduction is the step from which protection starts.
The Firm also offers remote consultations, with documents sent online, and a written quote before the engagement. The offices are in Naples, Rome and Bari, by appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the heirs who cannot be excluded by will?
The forced heirs: spouse (or civil partner), children and, if there are no children, ascendants (Art. 536 et seq. c.c.).
What happens if there is no will?
Intestate succession opens: the law establishes who inherits and in which share (Art. 565 et seq. c.c.).
How much can a person making a will leave freely?
The disposable portion, which depends on the relatives present and is never less than a quarter of the estate.
Does a separated or divorced spouse inherit?
A separated spouse without fault attributed keeps the succession rights; with divorce they are lost, save the possibility of an allowance chargeable to the estate in case of need.
What changes if an heir renounces?
His or her share does not disappear: it increases that of the others or changes the percentages of division.
I was excluded from the will: what can I do?
If the gifts received do not cover your reserved share, you can bring the action for reduction. Until then you cannot ask for division.
Sources: Normattiva, Civil Code, book two, Art. 536 et seq., 553 et seq. and 565 et seq. Author: Attorney Renato Giuseppe Fiorentino, Naples Bar. Informational text, it does not replace an opinion on your case.
(Read also): Legal guides from Studio Legale Fiorentino · Wills in Naples: how to make one, when it is valid and how to defend yourself if you want to challenge it · Public, holographic or secret will: differences, requirements, costs and which to choose (Arts. 601-608 of the Civil Code)
Translated from the Italian original; updated on October 18, 2026.
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