At Gabarró Advocats -Herències-, we are proud to have participated once again in the Master’s Degree in Law and Advocacy at the Barcelona School of Management of Pompeu Fabra University (BSM-UPF).

This 2024 marks the fifth consecutive edition in which our director, Meritxell Gabarró, has been invited to deliver the masterclass on Succession Law. We extend our gratitude to Mr. Jose Manuel Martínez-Sierra, director of BSM-UPF, and Ms. Esther Farnós Amorós, associate professor of civil law at UPF. The session took place at the central UPF building on Balmes Street.

The class offers a blend of theoretical knowledge, practical insights, and an exploration of the most common scenarios in the field of Succession Law, including:

–Mortis causa acts: wills, codicils, and testamentary memoranda.
-Types of wills: notarial (open and closed) and holographic.
–Succession agreements versus traditional wills.
-Causes of nullity in wills and succession agreements.
–Intestate succession, with an emphasis on the commutation rights of the surviving spouse or stable partner and collaterals, illustrated with charts explaining different scenarios involving siblings and nephews/nieces.

The process of accepting or renouncing an inheritance, with a focus on the quarta falcidia.

This year, residual trusts and the role of executors were the central topics of the session. These instruments, though less known, are increasingly appreciated for their adaptability to modern needs:

-The residual trust ensures that inherited assets preserved until the fiduciary’s death remain within the bloodline (children and grandchildren), as it allows fiduciaries to manage the assets during their lifetime.
-The executor acts as a mediator to prevent conflicts among heirs, interpreting the testator’s will and fulfilling other duties and assignments entrusted to them.