22 January 2026 · Michał Sokołowski

Intestacy in Poland — the basic rules

A lawyer writing a document by hand at a desk

If someone dies without leaving a will, the estate passes under the rules of the Polish Civil Code — and the first in line are the spouse and the children.

The order of succession

Where there are no descendants, the parents, siblings and then more distant relatives may inherit, in the order the law sets out.

Confirming the inheritance

To confirm formally who has inherited, you need either a court order confirming the inheritance or a certificate of succession drawn up by a notary.

This article is general information only and is not legal advice on any specific matter.

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