Legal services
Estate planning in Costa Rica for anyone with assets, children, or loved ones they wish to care for: we design personalized legal structures through wills, trusts, donations, or succession agreements.
Estate planning is the legal process by which a person organizes, during their lifetime, how their assets and rights will be distributed after they pass away. It goes far beyond “making a will”: it's about protecting your assets, avoiding family conflicts, and ensuring your wishes are fulfilled with legal certainty.
At KMR Legal, we design personalized legal structures that allow you to take control of your legacy. Whether through wills, trusts, donations, or succession agreements, our specialized advice offers peace of mind for you and stability for your loved ones.
We draft clear, valid wills that comply with the law.
We represent heirs in succession proceedings, from filing the application to the allocation of assets, both in judicial and notarial venues.
We design trust structures that allow for secure management and transfer of assets, especially useful for protecting minors, people with disabilities, or complex assets.
We defend your rights in cases of will contestation, heir exclusion, conflicts between parties, nullities, and other succession controversies.
We analyze your family and financial situation to develop a tailored legal strategy, protecting your assets and ensuring an orderly transition without surprises.
We advise heirs in making informed decisions regarding accepting or rejecting inheritances, especially when there are liabilities or associated legal risks.
We coordinate and advise on the distribution of assets among heirs, whether amicably or judicially, ensuring a fair, documented, and efficient process.
We handle the registration of assets in the name of heirs before the National Registry and other entities, ensuring all documentation is in order.
Proper estate planning offers lasting benefits for you and your loved ones.
Clear planning significantly reduces the possibility of family conflicts over asset distribution.
Reduces time and judicial costs by having a clear and well-defined legal structure.
Ensures the care of minors, dependents, or people with disabilities through appropriate legal structures.
Allows you to specify precisely who receives each asset, avoiding confusion or misinterpretations.
Facilitates the management of assets in companies or diversified estate structures.
Alleviates family stress in difficult times by having important decisions already made and documented.
How we work
4 clear stages, from the first consultation to the end. At each one you know what we do and what we need from you.
Book a consultationWe conduct a comprehensive assessment of your financial situation, family, and long-term goals.
We develop a personalized plan that addresses your specific needs and estate objectives.
We prepare and execute all necessary legal documents to implement your estate plan.
We offer regular reviews of your plan to ensure it stays up-to-date with changes in your life and legislation.
It is the legal and strategic process to organize the transmission of your assets during your lifetime, ensuring that your property passes to the people you designate, in an orderly manner and without conflicts. At KMR Legal, we help you avoid unnecessary lawsuits and protect vulnerable heirs.
The most common are wills, trusts, donations, and succession agreements. Our legal team analyzes your financial and family situation to design an appropriate structure.
In the absence of a will, legitimate succession applies according to the Civil Code, which can cause disputes between heirs and delays in the distribution of assets.
Yes, within certain legal limits. At KMR Legal, we advise you on how to structure your wishes in a valid way, respecting the legitimate portion of forced heirs, community property rights, and protecting your desire to distribute assets either equitably or strategically.
Yes. It is possible to assign specific assets through a will or advance donation. Our team is responsible for drafting these instruments with legal precision.
It is a tool to transfer assets safely and gradually, ideal in cases of complex estates or to protect minors or people with disabilities.
Costa Rican trusts are flexible legal structures where a settlor transfers assets to a trustee who manages them for designated beneficiaries. Benefits include: asset protection from creditors and legal claims, privacy (trust details remain confidential), professional asset management, tax planning opportunities, succession planning without probate, protection during incapacity, and flexibility to modify terms. Trusts can hold real estate, business interests, investments, and personal property. They're particularly valuable for foreign investors, business owners, and families with significant assets. Our attorneys structure trusts to meet specific goals while ensuring compliance with Costa Rican trust law and tax regulations.
A judicial process can take between 6 months and several years, depending on the complexity and if there are conflicts. A notarial succession process can take from 3 to 6 months. Planning during your lifetime with adequate legal advice reduces time, costs, and family tensions.
With well-structured estate planning and legal advice. At KMR Legal, we prevent ambiguities, poorly drafted clauses, or provisions that could lead to challenges or family divisions.
No. Anyone with assets, children, or dependents should consider planning. It's not just about the amount, but about the peace of mind that comes from having everything in order to protect what you value most and avoid major conflicts and unnecessary family tensions.
Yes, foreigners can create wills and trusts in Costa Rica for both Costa Rican and foreign assets. For Costa Rican assets, a local will is highly recommended and must comply with Costa Rican law. For foreign assets, you may need separate wills in each country or an international will. Trusts are particularly beneficial for foreigners as they provide asset protection, privacy, and succession planning advantages. Foreign trustees can be appointed, and trusts can hold international assets. However, tax implications in your home country must be considered. Our attorneys coordinate with international tax advisors and foreign counsel to ensure comprehensive planning that complies with all applicable laws and optimizes tax efficiency across jurisdictions.
Guides from our team to understand your case before the consultation
Estate planning
Practical guide to the probate process in Costa Rica for foreigners: types of proceedings, required documents, timelines, and how a local attorney can simplify the process.
Estate planning
A clear guide for foreigners with assets in Costa Rica: why a local will is essential, how it avoids delays and costs.
Estate planning
What is a Living Will in Costa Rica, its requirements, legal limitations, and how it allows you to decide about future medical treatments.
We'll explain whether your case can go through the notarial or the judicial route and what you need to get started, in plain language.
Documents for a succession process
or call us at +506 2494-0809
