With a deep understanding of Costa Rican law and international estate considerations, our estate planning lawyers in Costa Rica guide you through every step of the planning and succession process. Whether you are a resident or a foreign investor, we build a plan around your actual assets and family, so your loved ones receive what you intend, without avoidable delay, cost, or conflict.
What We Do
Costa Rican wills drafted and signed before a notary, so your assets pass as you decide. Essential if you own property here, even if you already have a will at home.
Structuring your assets, using the right combination of will, trust, company shares, or a usufruct arrangement, to protect your family and keep the transfer smooth.
Set up and administer a fideicomiso to hold and protect your assets and pass them to your beneficiaries. Our group’s fiduciary arm, AG Trust, can act as trustee.
Transferring control of your company to the next generation, with the corporate documents, share structure, and shareholder agreements to support it.
Support for heirs who need to open and complete a succession in Costa Rica, including heirs who live abroad. See our probate guide.
Why You Need Estate Planning Lawyers in Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s civil-law system works differently from what most foreign owners expect, and four differences catch people out:
- No right of survivorship. Joint title does not pass property automatically at death; the asset still needs a will, a trust, a share transfer, or a usufruct arrangement.
- A support-based form of forced heirship. Your will must secure support for certain dependents, rather than reserving a fixed percentage of the estate.
- Foreign wills are not automatic. A will from another country needs judicial recognition (exequatur) before it can operate over Costa Rican real estate.
- A trust can keep an asset out of probate. A properly funded fideicomiso passes assets by its own terms instead of through a court proceeding.
We explain each one in depth in our guide to estate planning in Costa Rica.
How It Works With Our Estate Planning Lawyers in Costa Rica
- Consultation and asset review. We map what you own in Costa Rica and abroad, how each asset is titled, and who your family and heirs are.
- Recommendation. We propose the combination of will, trust, share structure, or usufruct that fits your goals, and explain the trade-offs in plain language.
- Drafting and signing. We prepare the documents and handle the notarial formalities and registrations.
- Review. We revisit the plan after major changes, such as a new property, a change in residency, a marriage, or a divorce.
Who We Help
Our estate planning lawyers in Costa Rica work with:
- Foreign investors and property owners with real estate or companies in Costa Rica.
- Expats and retirees living in Costa Rica or planning to.
- Business owners who want a clear succession path for their company.
- Blended families, second marriages, and unmarried partners who need a plan that fits their situation.
Build an estate plan around what you actually own, not a generic template.
Talk to Our Estate Planning TeamU.S. Embassy and FCDO Guidance
AG Legal appears on the U.S. Embassy San José’s List of Attorneys for the Consular District of San José, and in the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s “Find a Lawyer” directory for Costa Rica. Inclusion on either list does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by either government.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does your estate planning service include?
- We review your assets and family situation, recommend the combination of tools that fits (will, fideicomiso, share structure, or a usufruct arrangement), and draft and register what you choose. See our complete estate planning guide for how each tool works.
- Do I need a will, a trust, or both?
- It depends on what you own, how it is titled, and who your heirs are. A will covers the part of your estate that is not held in a trust, and a trust can keep specific assets out of probate. We recommend the right combination after reviewing your situation.
- I already have a will from my home country. Do I still need one in Costa Rica?
- Usually yes. A foreign will is not automatically honored for Costa Rican assets, and recognizing it requires a judicial process called exequatur. We typically recommend a dedicated Costa Rican will limited to your local assets, which works alongside your home-country will. Details are in our guide to wills for foreign property owners.
- Can you coordinate with my attorney or tax advisor abroad?
- Yes. We can work alongside your advisors abroad so your Costa Rican plan fits into your broader international estate plan instead of conflicting with it.
- What should I bring to the first consultation?
- A list of your Costa Rican assets (property, company shares, bank accounts, vehicles), copies of any existing wills or trusts, and a sense of who your intended beneficiaries are. We build the recommendation from there.
- Can AG Legal also act as trustee for my fideicomiso?
- We handle the legal setup and documentation, and the group’s own fiduciary arm, AG Trust, can serve as trustee for estate planning trusts, so the plan and the trust are coordinated from the start.
- Do you work with clients who live outside Costa Rica?
- Yes. We work with residents and with foreign investors and owners. Tell us where you live and we will explain how the process works for you, including what can be prepared in advance and what requires your presence.
- How much does an estate plan cost?
- It depends on the tools involved: a will, a trust, a share structure, or a combination. We give you a clear quote after reviewing your assets and goals. Our wills guide breaks down the costs of the will itself.
Related Reading
- Estate Planning in Costa Rica: The Complete Guide
- Costa Rica Wills for Foreign Property Owners
- Probate in Costa Rica
- Real Estate Law in Costa Rica
- Companies in Costa Rica: S.A. vs. S.R.L.
This page is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every estate plan depends on your specific assets, family situation, and residency status; consult a licensed Costa Rican attorney before acting.