Inheritance and shared ownership
Articles: 19
Inheriting property, transferring it to your name, shares and selling when owners disagree.
What is a hasr irth and how do I get one in Lebanon?
A court decision naming the heirs and their shares; no property passes without it. Which court, which documents, the Finance step first, cost and time.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 8 min read
Is there inheritance tax in Lebanon, and how much is it?
Yes: each heir pays a progressive tax of 3% to 45% on their share above a personal exemption. 2026 exemptions, brackets, deadlines and older estates.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
How do I end co-ownership of a property in Lebanon?
Agree a registered partition, or sue under Law 16/1982: division in kind, a company, or auction. Who can ask, where to file, deadlines, acting from abroad.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 8 min read
Which inheritance law applies to me in Lebanon: Muslim, Christian, Druze or foreigner?
It follows the deceased's religious community: Islamic law for Muslims, the 1959 civil law for Christians and Jews. Courts, shares and foreign heirs.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
Can I sell my share of an inherited or co-owned property in Lebanon?
Yes, without the others' consent. But a co-owner can take an outside buyer's place after registration. Who holds pre-emption, deadlines and exceptions.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
How do I transfer inherited property into the heirs' names at the Land Registry?
Heirs file the estate declaration, get the hasr irth, pay or secure the tax, then register at the local Land Registry. Documents and steps.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
Which law governs the succession of a Franco-Lebanese person with property in Lebanon and in France?
No published source settles it: Lebanon follows community rules, and one law firm says a 1929 law may apply to foreign elements. Wills, heirs, tax, who to ask.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
Which court issues the hasr irth in Lebanon: the Sharia court or the civil court?
It depends on the community: a civil first-instance judge for non-Muslims; for Muslims, law firms disagree on the court. Steps and checks.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
I'm an heir abroad: can someone act for me in Lebanon, and how do I sign the power of attorney?
Yes: a lawyer or relative can act under a POA signed at a Lebanese mission, or notarised locally and legalised. Steps, fees, deadlines and risks.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 10 min read
Which heirs are exempt from inheritance tax in Lebanon?
No heir is exempt outright: each gets a tax-free allowance, largest for spouses, children and parents. 2026 amounts, extra layers and rates.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
Can one heir force the partition or sale of an inherited property in Lebanon?
Yes. Any heir can ask the court to end co-ownership: division first, then a company, then public auction. How the case runs, from Lebanon or abroad.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 8 min read
Can heirs sell an inherited property before the estate tax is paid and the property is transferred?
Per Kallas Law Firm, no: a sale cannot be registered until the Finance Ministry clears the estate and heirs hold the Probate Decision. Steps, buyer risks.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
Do foreign heirs need a licence or face the 3,000 m² limit when they inherit property in Lebanon?
Two sources say foreign heirs need no licence and inherit by reciprocity; none says if inherited area counts toward 3,000 m². What is known, whom to ask.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
Can a mortgaged property or share be partitioned in Lebanon?
Yes, if the mortgage is on one co-owner's share: it moves to their lot or their part of the price. Pledges, whole-property mortgages and release fees.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
How is an estate divided under the Lebanese inheritance law for non-Muslims?
Under the 1959 law, as one law firm reads it, children share equally and the spouse's share depends on who survives. Heir order, reserves, wills.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
What documents do I need for a hasr irth and the estate declaration in Lebanon?
Per one law firm: the death certificate, struck-off family extracts, the mukhtar's statement of heirs and a Finance Ministry licence. What each stage needs.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
How long do heirs have to declare an estate in Lebanon, and what are the penalties for being late?
Heirs declare within 90 days of the death and complete the file within six months; late fines run monthly. Extensions for heirs abroad, penalties and steps.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
How is the value of inherited property set for inheritance tax in Lebanon?
At market value at the date of death, set by a Finance Ministry controller. Expert reports, objections, deadlines and the exchange-rate gap.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
My parent died years ago and the estate was never declared: which inheritance tax rules apply?
It depends on the date of death: 15 November 2022 splits the schedules, and a pre-2007 exemption rests on one source. Fines, steps and whom to ask.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
