Inheritance mediation
Estates crystallise decades of family history. When the division stalls, mediation makes it possible to separate the emotional stakes from the financial ones and to reach lasting agreements.
The most common inheritance disputes
Inheritance deadlocks rarely concern the financial side alone. They often involve the symbolic value attached to certain assets, the sense of fairness between children, and tense relationships between co-heirs or with a surviving spouse.
- Dividing an estate between siblings
- Joint ownership of family real estate (family home, chalet)
- Disagreements over valuing a family business or a collection
- Conflicts with the executor of the will
- Tensions between a surviving spouse and children from a first marriage
- Hotchpot and abatement (art. 626 et seq. CC)
Why mediation rather than litigation?
A succession dispute before the Geneva courts takes two to five years on average, costs tens of thousands of francs and freezes family relationships. Mediation usually reaches a resolution within a few months, at a controlled cost, and preserves the ability to keep talking to one another.
Agreements reached through mediation can be formalised by notarial deed and have the same legal effect as a conventional division agreement.
Working with the other professionals
Inheritance mediation works alongside notaries, specialised lawyers and valuation experts. The mediator does not replace these professionals: they facilitate dialogue so that the technical input leads to an agreement.
Frequently asked questions
When should you consider inheritance mediation rather than an action for division?
When the heirs want to preserve family ties and find a tailored solution (dividing a property, a business or valuables) without enduring the length and cost of a judicial division. Mediation remains possible even while proceedings are under way.
Can mediation settle the division of jointly owned real estate?
Yes. It is one of the most common cases: allocation, buy-out of shares, sale or keeping the property in joint ownership. The mediator helps compare the options; a notary then formalises the agreement.
What happens if a single heir refuses mediation?
Mediation requires the agreement of all the parties involved. A neutral first conversation can nonetheless be offered to clarify the framework. Failing agreement, the judicial routes remain open.
Do you need a lawyer or notary in addition to the mediator?
The mediator is neutral and does not replace your advisers. A lawyer or notary may step in before, during or after to secure the agreement legally and formalise it (deed of division, settlement).
Request a first conversation
The first conversation is confidential and without obligation. It clarifies your situation and assesses whether mediation is the right fit.