Need a family or inheritance lawyer in Burgas? BSLC can help

Need a family or inheritance lawyer in Burgas? BSLC can help

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You're an English-speaking resident living in Sozopol, and you’ve recently lost a close relative who owned property in Bulgaria. You’re unsure how inheritance is handled under Bulgarian law — whether there’s a will, who inherits what, and how to legally transfer ownership. Or perhaps you live near Primorsko and are going through a difficult separation with a Bulgarian spouse, needing reliable legal advice on custody and visitation rights for your children.

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Many of our clients — whether in Burgas, Sveti Vlas, or Sunny Beach — come to us with similar concerns about family and inheritance matters. They ask questions like: 

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• “How does divorce by mutual consent work under Bulgarian law?”
• “Can I dispute paternity if it’s legally registered?”
• “What are my rights after the dissolution of marriage in Bulgaria?”

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These are not just legal questions — they directly affect your family, children, and property. At BSLC, we help English-speaking individuals and families navigate these emotionally complex and legally delicate issues with clarity, tact, and firm legal footing.

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What are my options for divorce in Bulgaria — mutual or contested?

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A British client in Karnobat recently contacted us seeking a swift divorce. He and his Bulgarian spouse had agreed on everything: property division, no children involved, and no financial claims. “Can we just get a simple divorce by mutual consent?” he asked.

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Under Bulgarian law, there are two primary ways to dissolve a marriage: divorce by mutual consent and contested divorce. Divorce by mutual consent is faster, cheaper, and less adversarial — but only possible if both parties fully agree on all personal and financial consequences of the divorce.

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According to Article 50 of the Bulgarian Family Code (Семеен кодекс):

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“Where there is serious and irreparable disruption of the marital relationship, the spouses may file a joint petition for divorce. The court shall pronounce a judgment for divorce by mutual consent if both parties explicitly confirm their will before the court.”

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In practice, this means:

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• Both spouses must appear in court together
• They need a written divorce agreement (развод по взаимно съгласие), covering spousal support, child custody (if applicable), use of common home, etc.
• The court does not investigate the reasons for divorce in such cases

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If mutual consent isn’t reached — as often happens in contested divorces — the procedure is significantly more complex. A spouse must prove that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. The court may also have to decide on custody and visitation rights, asset division, or child support arrangements.

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At BSLC, we support clients throughout this process, whether drafting clear divorce agreements or providing full representation in contested proceedings. Our family attorneys have assisted clients from Ravda to Nesebar, ensuring their rights are protected in court and beyond.

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How is child custody decided after divorce in Bulgaria?

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A client living in Tsarevo is going through a contested divorce and asks, “Will I lose access to my children if my Bulgarian spouse gets full custody?” This is a very common — and very personal — concern for parents separating in Bulgaria.

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Child custody (родителски права) laws in Bulgaria focus on the best interests of the child. During divorce proceedings, the court rules on:

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• Legal and physical custody
• Schedule for visitation by the non-custodial parent
• Child support amount and duration

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According to Article 59 of the Bulgarian Family Code:

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“The court shall decide on the exercise of parental rights and the personal relationships between the parents and the children, taking into consideration the children's interests, their age, attachment toward each parent, as well as each parent’s capacity to raise them.”

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This places the child’s welfare at the center of the court’s decision — not just biology or income. Key risks in child support cases arise from misunderstandings about:

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• Who decides schooling, medical care, residency?
• What access does the non-residential parent have?
• How is cross-border visitation handled?

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In one recent case near Malko Tarnovo, we successfully represented an English-speaking parent in securing a shared visitation schedule even though the children remained with the Bulgarian parent. We advised on collecting the necessary social reports, school records, and psychiatric opinions the court considers decisive.

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BSLC provides litigation, mediation, and agreement drafting support tailored to families across Chernomorets, Aheloy, Lozenets and the wider Burgas region.

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Who inherits property in Bulgaria when there is no will?

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Many foreign residents in Sunny Beach or Aytos inherit property or bank assets after the death of a spouse, parent, or sibling — but don’t know how Bulgarian inheritance law treats such situations if there is no will.

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Bulgarian law provides for statutory inheritance in the absence of a will. This is governed by the Bulgarian Inheritance Act (Закон за наследството). The legal heirs depend on the deceased’s surviving relatives.

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According to Article 5 of the Inheritance Act:

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“The first degree of inheritance includes the children of the deceased and their descendants. They inherit in equal shares.”

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In plain terms, if the deceased had children, they inherit everything equally — together with the spouse, who is also a statutory heir. If no children exist, siblings, parents or even more distant relatives may inherit depending on the family tree.

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In one case in Obzor, a German client contacted us when her husband passed away unexpectedly without a will. He owned real estate in Bulgaria. We guided her through:

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• Obtaining a certificate of heirs
• Registering the inheritance with the Bulgarian Land Register 
• Avoiding unnecessary tax by waiving inheritance not claimed

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If you are uncertain about your rights, or if you suspect a disputing of paternity or unclear legal establishment of origin, these can also impact who qualifies as an heir.

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At BSLC, we regularly represent clients in inheritance proceedings throughout Kameno, Sredets, Ahtopol, and Burgas — ensuring their rights are recognised swiftly and properly under law.

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What steps are required to legally establish or dispute paternity in Bulgaria?

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A UK citizen in Kiten recently discovered that the man legally listed as the father of her child may not be the biological parent. “What’s the process for disputing paternity in Bulgaria?” she asked during a family lawyer consultation in Burgas.

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Paternity in Bulgaria is presumed under certain conditions — especially if the parents were married at the time of the child’s birth. However, this presumption can be tested by court procedures.

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According to Article 60 of the Bulgarian Family Code:

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“Paternity may be contested by the presumed father, the mother, or the child within one year of becoming aware of the circumstances justifying the action.”

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Establishing or disputing paternity often involves:

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• Legal action at the district court
• DNA testing ordered by the court
• Proof of relationships or absence thereof

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This impacts not just identity but also inheritance rights, parental rights in Bulgaria, and child support. Disputes may arise when children are born out of wedlock, in international relationships, or where the mother marries soon after the child’s birth.

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We have represented clients from Sinemorets and Pomorie in such delicate matters. At BSLC, we provide discreet, thorough legal support from the initial consultation to final judgment — including liaising with forensic experts and protecting your reputation in court.

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Conclusion

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Whether you're facing difficulties with the dissolution of marriage in Burgas, navigating inheritance rights in Sozopol, or resolving custody and visitation disputes in Sveti Vlas, BSLC is here to help. Our family and inheritance law solicitors have deep local knowledge across the entire Burgas region — including Primorsko, Ravda, Obzor, and beyond.

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If you’re dealing with any family legal issues — large or small — don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team will provide honest advice, skilled representation, and practical solutions at every step.

Can a spouse be removed from inheritance after years of separation without divorce?

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We were recently contacted by a client in Kiten whose estranged spouse passed away suddenly. They had lived apart for over 15 years but never formally divorced. Now, the spouse’s adult child from a previous relationship has initiated inheritance proceedings, claiming full rights to the deceased’s property — arguing that the client no longer had a marital connection. The client wanted to know: could she be excluded from the inheritance?

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Under Bulgarian inheritance law, the spouse remains a legal heir unless a divorce decree has been issued by the court. The fact that the couple were not cohabiting has no legal effect on inheritance capacity. The surviving spouse retains rights regardless of the personal estrangement, unless a valid disinheritance measure was taken — and this requires strict procedural grounds under the Bulgarian Inheritance Act.

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We advised the client that no valid disinheritance occurred in this case, and she must assert her statutory heirship rights. We obtained a certificate of marital status and assisted in filing for her share of the estate, which included real property in the territory of Ahtopol. Our role included representing her during the partition of inherited property proceedings — ensuring application of Article 9 of the Inheritance Act, which entitles the spouse to inherit jointly with children and to a reserved portion of inheritance under Article 28.

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Can I challenge an old property donation if I suspect coercion?

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A client from Pomorie recently appeared with concerns over a notary deed (нотариален акт) from 2004, which transferred agricultural land to one of his siblings. The deed was presented as a donation from their late father, but the client claims their father was already unwell and under pressure from the recipient at the time. He wanted legal advice on whether the donation can be challenged posthumously.

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Under Bulgarian law, lifetime donations related to property may be annulled where legal defects exist — such as lack of valid consent, incapacity, or coercion. While expiration of time limits restricts many civil claims, donations made to heirs at the expense of others may be reversed during inheritance proceedings under Article 30 of the Inheritance Act. This applies when the reserved portion of inheritance has been infringed by lifetime transfers.

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We reviewed the donation documents alongside medical records and obtained witness statements certifying the donor’s diminished capacity at the time. We initiated civil litigation under the Obligations and Contracts Act to annul the donation. Additionally, we raised a claim in the inheritance partition proceedings to include the value of the donated property in the estate. In this and similar cases from Sredets or Lozenets, we ensure compliance with formal procedural safeguards and respect for the intended equality of heirs.

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Do I need court approval to sell inherited property held in common with minors?

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A Dutch-Bulgarian couple in Sunny Beach passed away in a car accident, leaving behind a holiday apartment, jointly inherited by their minor child and the grandparents. A relative in Tsarevo approached us because they wanted to sell the apartment to cover care and schooling expenses, but were unsure how to proceed given that one co-owner was a minor.

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In Bulgaria, under Articles 130 and 132 of the Bulgarian Family Code, any transaction involving a minor’s share of immovable property must be authorised by the regional court. This includes the sale of jointly inherited properties, even if the sale appears beneficial. Without court approval, the sale is void concerning the child’s interest.

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We organised an expert valuation of the apartment and verified the proportional benefit to the child’s welfare. We then prepared the petition to the Burgas Regional Court, supported by social services reports and financial estimates for use of proceeds. After obtaining judicial approval, we finalised the sale and ensured the minor’s share was placed in a dedicated bank account. We regularly assist clients with such transactions involving cross-border inheritance in Bulgaria, always safeguarding the legal interests of underage heirs.

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What family and inheritance services does BSLC provide throughout the Burgas region?

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We support international and local clients with a wide range of legal services in family and inheritance law. Whether you reside in Malko Tarnovo, Ravda, or Sveti Vlas, our expertise spans routine matters to complex cross-border legal arrangements. Our attorneys handle practical proceedings that arise in multi-jurisdictional families as well as local inheritance disputes.

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Our legal team offers:

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• Representation in divorce proceedings — including by mutual consent and contested litigation  

• Full service in division of inheritance and partition of inherited property  

• Disinheritance legal advice, including grounds and formal challenges  

• Challenging a will and its validity, including notarial and handwritten forms  

• Advice and handling of acceptance of inheritance with inventory (приемане на наследство по инвентар)  

• Drafting and interpretation of wills and legal instruments — tailored to mixed-nationality families  

• Cross-border inheritance in Bulgaria — application of foreign and EU succession rules  

• Settlement of inheritance with notarial waiver of inheritance and preparation of inheritance certificates  

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We advise and represent clients in Burgas, Karnobat, Aytos, Kameno, Chernomorets, Sozopol, Obzor, and other towns across the Burgas region. No matter where you’re based — whether in a coastal resort like Sinemorets or an inland municipality like Sredets — we ensure your legal rights are preserved with care and competence.