Inheritance in Morocco is governed by Book VI of the Family Code: reserved shares (fardh), residuary heirs (taâsib), wills capped at one third, mandatory bequest to grandchildren. After a death, the certificate of heirs drawn up by the adouls fixes the list of heirs; then come the inventory, the settlement and the division, amicable or judicial. The lawyers below, registered with the Tangier bar, work on share calculations, divisions and disputes between heirs.
The certificate of heirs (rasm al-iratha) is the starting point: drawn up by two adouls on witness statements and approved by the notarial judge.
A will cannot exceed one third of the estate without the heirsâ consent, and cannot benefit an heir.
Registered property passes by entry at the land registry; co-ownership ends by amicable division or a partition action before the first-instance court.
Our inheritance calculator gives the theoretical shares under the Moudawana; it does not replace the analysis of a real case (debts, bequests, assets abroad).
How do I obtain the certificate of heirs in Tangier?
It is drawn up by two adouls of the Tangier district, based on the death certificate and the testimony of twelve witnesses who knew the family, then approved by the notarial judge. A lawyer checks that every heir, including those living abroad, is listed.
Can an inheritance division be challenged?
Yes. An amicable division tainted by error, fraud or the omission of an heir can be challenged before the first-instance court, and a judicial division can be appealed. Deadlines and evidence depend on the nature of the assets.
Do heirs living abroad have to come to Morocco?
Not necessarily: they can appoint a lawyer or a relative through a power of attorney drawn up at the consulate or legalised. Several Tangier lawyers handle these files remotely, especially for the diaspora.
