First year after a death

Ongoing tasks (months 2-12)

1. Complete the partilhas (division of estate)

After the habilitação de herdeiros is complete, the actual division of assets (partilhas) must be agreed upon by all heirs.
If heirs agree, this can be done at a Cartório Notarial through a voluntary partition deed (escritura de partilhas).
If there are disputes, the partition may need to go through the courts (inventário judicial), which can take much longer.
Property registration must be updated at the Conservatória do Registo Predial after the partition.

2. Transfer property and registrations

Property (real estate): Register the new ownership at the Conservatória do Registo Predial and update the Caderneta Predial at Finanças.
Vehicles: Complete the transfer at IMT and update the insurance.
Shares and investments: Contact the relevant financial institutions to transfer ownership.
Business interests: If the deceased was a business owner, consult a lawyer about succession of the business.

3. File the deceased's final tax return (IRS)

The heirs (specifically the cabeça de casal) must file the deceased's final IRS tax return for the year of death.
This is filed during the normal IRS submission period (April-June of the following year).
If the deceased was married, the surviving spouse may choose to file jointly or separately for that year.
Access the deceased's Portal das Finanças profile using the death certificate and habilitação de herdeiros documentation.

4. Close or transfer remaining accounts

Cancel subscriptions, memberships, and recurring payments.
Close email accounts, social media profiles, and other digital accounts (see our Digital Legacy guide).
Cancel the deceased's Cartão de Cidadão (ID card) if not already done automatically.
Return any government-issued cards or permits (health card, driving license, etc.).

5. Review your own financial situation

Update your own will and estate planning if necessary.
Review your insurance policies (especially life and health insurance).
Consider seeking financial advice if the inheritance significantly changes your financial situation.
Update your IRS household status (agregado familiar) at Finanças.

6. Take care of your emotional health

Grief has no fixed timeline. It is normal to experience waves of emotion throughout the first year and beyond.
Key dates (birthdays, anniversaries, holidays) can be especially difficult. Plan ahead for these moments.
Consider joining a grief support group or seeking counseling if needed.
See our Grief support and When to seek help guides.

Key deadlines summary

3 months: Imposto do Selo inheritance tax declaration
1 year: Subsídio por Morte request deadline
April-June: IRS tax return for the year of death
No fixed deadline: Habilitação de herdeiros and partilhas (but recommended within the first year)

Consider professional help

If the estate is complex (multiple properties, business interests, international assets, or disputes between heirs), it may be worth consulting a solicitor (solicitador) or lawyer (advogado) who specializes in succession law. The cost of professional guidance often pays for itself by avoiding mistakes and delays.

Emotional milestones of the first year

Grief has no deadline

The first year after a loss is full of "firsts" without the person who has died. It is normal for certain dates to be especially difficult. Grief does not disappear – it becomes part of our life.

Difficult dates

→ Their birthday – The first one without them. Allow yourself to feel without judgement.
→ Anniversary of the death – May bring vivid memories of the final moments. Plan how you want to spend the day.
→ Christmas and Easter – Family gatherings highlight the absence. Decide in advance what you feel able to do.
→ Mother's Day / Father's Day – Particularly hard if you lost a parent or were a parent yourself.
→ Personal dates – Wedding anniversary, usual holidays, "our song".

Strategies for difficult dates

→ Plan ahead – Decide how you want to spend the day, but give yourself permission to change your mind.
→ Create new rituals – Light a candle, visit a special place, write a letter.
→ Don't isolate yourself – Being with trusted people can help, even in silence.
→ Lower your expectations – You do not need to "get over" any date. Surviving the day is enough.
→ Seek support – Talking to someone who understands can make all the difference.

When to seek professional help

If grief becomes unbearable, interferes with your ability to function day-to-day, or you feel unable to go on, please seek help. Find out when and where to get professional support.