“It is especially older couples who adapt their contract during the marriage,” indicates notary and spokesperson for notaires.be, Sylvain Bavier. “They generally do this as part of their inheritance planning, in order to offer their partner additional protection. Young couples more often adapt their marriage contract to the birth of their first child,” he explains. .
Finally, the inheritance pact also gained popularity in 2024. During the first nine months of the year, 4,718 inheritance pacts were registered in Belgium, an increase of 3.6% compared to 2023.
The instrument, which came into force in 2018, offers families several options for settling their estate. He involves all heirs, including stepchildren and grandchildren, in the discussions. Such a pact makes it possible to check whether everyone involved feels they have been treated fairly. If necessary, certain imbalances can be corrected, thus making it possible to avoid subsequent conflicts.
