Hiring a Lawyer for Inheritance in Poland

Not every estate settlement in Poland requires a lawyer. Simple cases — all heirs agree, no disputes, no debts — can be handled at a notary in a day or two. But when the estate involves cross-border complications, contested wills, real estate transfers, or missing heirs, a Polish attorney becomes essential. Here's how the system works and what it costs.

Two Types of Polish Lawyers

Poland has two categories of practicing attorneys, both fully qualified to handle estate matters:

Adwokat — the traditional barrister-type lawyer. Historically focused on criminal defense and litigation, but modern adwokaci handle all areas of law including inheritance. They can represent you in court and before notaries.

Radca prawny — originally limited to corporate and advisory work, but since 2015 they have full rights to represent clients in court. For estate settlement purposes, there's no practical difference between an adwokat and a radca prawny.

Both must be registered with their respective professional chambers. Both can draft powers of attorney, represent you in probate proceedings, and file tax forms on your behalf.

When You Actually Need a Lawyer

You probably don't need one if:

• All heirs agree on the division
• The estate has no debts
• No minors are involved
• You can attend (or send a PoA representative) to a notary for the APD

You likely need one if:

• There's a dispute about the will or asset division
• The estate includes real estate that needs to be sold or transferred
• You're managing everything from abroad and need someone to handle court filings, bank visits, and tax submissions
• A foreign will needs to be validated in Poland
• Minor children are involved and you need guardianship court permission
• You suspect the estate has significant debts

Costs: Statutory Minimums and Market Rates

Polish law sets minimum statutory attorney fees that courts use when calculating reimbursements. These give a baseline, but actual fees are negotiated between you and the attorney:

Market rates for English-speaking estate attorneys in Warsaw and Krakow typically run 300-600 PLN per hour, with flat-fee arrangements available for straightforward probate cases. A simple uncontested APD handled by a lawyer might cost 2,000-4,000 PLN total. A contested court probate with real estate complications can run 10,000-20,000+ PLN.

Finding an English-Speaking Attorney

Embassy lists. The US Embassy in Warsaw and the British Embassy maintain lists of English-speaking lawyers sorted by specialty. These aren't endorsements, but they're a practical starting point.

Professional chambers. The Polish Bar Council (Naczelna Rada Adwokacka) and the National Council of Legal Advisors (Krajowa Rada Radców Prawnych) maintain public registries. Search for attorneys specializing in prawo spadkowe (inheritance law) in the relevant city.

Referrals from funeral directors. English-speaking funeral homes in major cities often work with estate attorneys and can provide referrals.

The Executor Question

Poland doesn't have the common-law concept of a "personal representative" or "executor" who automatically manages the estate after death. Instead, all heirs collectively have rights over the estate until formal division occurs.

The closest equivalent is appointing an attorney with a detailed power of attorney to manage specific tasks: attend the notarial appointment, file tax forms, visit banks, handle the land registry. This PoA must be notarized, apostilled (for non-EU countries), and sworn-translated into Polish.

A well-drafted PoA is the single most important document for remote heirs. Generic powers of attorney are routinely rejected by Polish banks and notaries — the document must list each specific authority granted.

The Someone Died in Poland guide includes power of attorney templates optimized for Polish estate proceedings, a fee reference table, and a checklist for evaluating and hiring a Polish estate attorney.

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