A Costa Rican property, a foreign will and a life-insurance policy may involve different rules and different decision makers after a death. Plan them together so that relatives know what exists, where records are kept and whom to contact.
Creating a will for property in Costa Rica
Start by checking how each asset is owned. A home in your personal name, shares in a company that owns a home, and an insurance benefit are not the same asset. Give the Costa Rican professional current property and company details, copies of existing wills, information about your family and a list of debts. Ask how the proposed plan interacts with the rules in every country where you own assets.
Have a qualified notary or lawyer explain the appropriate form of will, signing requirements, executor arrangements and where the original will be kept. Verify notarial status with the Dirección Nacional de Notariado. A downloaded foreign template or an informal letter should not be assumed sufficient for Costa Rican property.
- Identify beneficiaries precisely, including alternatives if someone dies before you.
- Discuss dependants, minors and anyone needing legal representation.
- Explain mortgages, jointly held assets, business interests and prior family arrangements.
- Ask whether a new document would revoke or conflict with an existing foreign will.
- Keep a secure inventory and tell a trusted person how to locate it.
A will does not eliminate the estate process
The Judicial School’s practical civil-procedure manual explains that an estate proceeding uses information about the deceased, possible heirs, proof of death, the existence of a will and a provisional asset list. Having a will is therefore different from already having authority to sell or distribute the deceased’s assets.
After a death, ask a Costa Rican professional to determine the proper judicial or eligible notarial procedure, identify the person authorized to act and explain the next steps. Preserve records and avoid distributing property on the assumption that a family agreement alone completes the required process. Timing depends on the estate, documents, interested parties and any disputes.
Foreign wills and decisions
A foreign will and a foreign court judgment require different legal analysis. The Sala Segunda’s recognition guidance says foreign judicial decisions in succession matters require the applicable recognition process with legal assistance before taking effect in Costa Rica. Do not assume an apostille alone gives a foreign judgment full local effect.
Show the complete foreign documents to the Costa Rican adviser before ordering translations or starting a second estate proceeding. Ask which originals, certifications, translations and recognition steps are actually needed. Coordinate with the professional handling the foreign estate so that the two processes do not conflict.
Life insurance and beneficiary designations
Review the policy itself, not just a general statement in your will. Confirm the insured person, policy status, cover, exclusions, beneficiaries and their shares. The INS beneficiary-update page warns that missing beneficiary information can mean payment must wait for the estate process and declaration of heirs. Ask the insurer how to update names and contact details after marriage, divorce, a birth or a death.
Insurance products differ. For example, INS Vida Universal describes benefits subject to the chosen coverage and policy terms, while a vehicle-related accidental-death product is narrower. Do not assume every policy covers every cause of death, every country or every family member.
Keep the policy number, insurer contact and claim instructions with your estate inventory. Beneficiaries should notify the insurer promptly and request the exact documents and deadlines for that policy. A foreign death may require additional official records. Ask how benefits for minors or a beneficiary who cannot act personally will be handled.
A practical review checklist
Review the plan after buying or selling property, changing countries, marrying, divorcing or losing a beneficiary. Make sure the asset list, wills and policy designations remain consistent. Keep enough information for relatives to find the professionals and institutions involved without publishing passwords or sensitive financial records.
For related preparation, see notarial services in Costa Rica and the company compliance checklist if assets are held through a corporation.
Reviewed 8 September 2026 using the current Judicial School, Sala Segunda, DNN and INS resources linked above. Individual estate plans require legal review; this guide does not prescribe a will or guarantee claim payment.