FAQ
What is the order of inheritance in Macau?
The Macau Civil Code sets the order of inheritance through blood relatives, the spouse, and direct descendants; a will can adjust the distribution within legal limits but must preserve the forced heirship of statutory heirs.
The succession rules of the Macau Civil Code set the following statutory order: (1) spouse and direct descendants (children, grandchildren); (2) spouse and ascendants (parents, grandparents); (3) spouse and siblings and their descendants; (4) spouse and other blood relatives within the fourth degree; (5) if there is no spouse or blood relative, the estate passes to the Macao SAR. The spouse always inherits concurrently with other heirs. Forced heirship reserves 50% of the estate for direct descendants, or 33% for ascendants or siblings — a will cannot deprive them of this portion. For questions about a specific estate, consult a Macau-licensed lawyer or the Conservatória dos Registos Civis.