Brazil considers reforms to inheritance and succession laws

Brazil is considering legislative changes that could significantly alter inheritance and succession laws. Bill 562/2026, introduced by Deputy Delegado Palumbo, proposes the ‘Ficha Limpa Sucessória’ (Clean Succession Record). This measure aims to expand the consequences of criminal convictions against family members, potentially preventing individuals from inheriting assets from relatives who were not the direct victims of their crimes.

Separately, discussions regarding the reform of the Civil Code are addressing spousal succession. While social media claims have suggested that proposed changes might leave widows without inheritance, legal analysis indicates that surviving spouses would remain legitimate heirs. The reform specifically targets the competitive right to private assets and the status of necessary heirs, primarily affecting a small segment of the population that utilizes total separation of assets rather than the standard partial community property regime.