Who inherits without a will in Mexico?

In most states the spouse inherits a share equal to a child's, in some states only if the spouse has little property of their own.

With the parents or the siblings the spouse generally takes the larger share; with none of them, the spouse takes everything.

Descendants first, then the parents, then other ascendants, then collateral relatives up to the fourth degree. If none, the estate goes to public welfare.

Many states treat a concubine or a long-term partner as a spouse for inheritance, subject to conditions.

Most states require the person to leave maintenance to the children, the spouse and the parents who depend on them, while otherwise allowing the will to dispose of the estate freely.

The country has its own rules on which law governs an estate. An estate with a foreign element needs advice in each country involved.

• Because each state has its own code, the answer depends on the state where the person lived. This entry gives the usual pattern only.

Mexico belongs to the Civil law family. Succession law grows out of the legal tradition, so it helps to know how the system works.

Read the Mexico legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Who owns what in a marriage in Mexico? →

• Chamber of Deputies of Mexico: federal and state codes