In the absence of a will, who inherits and how much?

Where there is no will, the following principles apply to the various scenarios:

• If the deceased was unmarried and without children, the parents or the surviving parent will inherit. If the deceased has left only second degree ascendants or ascendants of a higher degree, those of the closest degree inherit in equal shares. When the deceased has left only siblings, these inherit in equal shares. When the deceased has left only siblings, as well as second degree ascendants or ascendants of a higher degree, the former receive 2/3 of the estate, while the ascendants receive a third.
• If the deceased was unmarried and leaves children, the latter share the estate equally. The portion of a child already deceased reverts to that child’s descendants per stirpes (representation).
• If the deceased leaves a spouse and has no children, ascendants, brothers or sisters or their descendants, the spouse inherits all the estate.

• If the deceased leaves a spouse and children, the spouse inherits in equal share with the children.

Do partners of a registered or unregistered partnership inherit?

The partners of an unregistered partnership – registered partnerships are not recognised under Bulgarian law – must arrange, in the form of a will, for their assets to devolve to the other partner, since they are not legal heirs.

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