Can I leave everything I own in my will in Norway?
No — not if you have children. But you can dispose of more than most people think. Under the Inheritance Act the children have a right to a reserved share, two thirds of the estate — but the reserved share is never larger than 15 times the base amount (15G) per child. That cap is what people overlook: if the estate is large, the children's claim is capped at 15G each, and the rest you can distribute freely in a will. A will must be written, signed and witnessed by two witnesses present at the same time — get the witnessing wrong and the whole will falls away. If you are married, the spouse has a right to a quarter when there are children, minimum 4G. There is no inheritance tax in Norway; it was abolished in 2014.
📋 The rules
- The children's reserved share = two thirds of the estate
- The reserved share is never more than 15G per child
- Will: written, signed, two witnesses together
- Spouse: a right to a quarter, minimum 4G, when there are children
- No inheritance tax in Norway (abolished 2014)
🔓 Exceptions
- A surviving spouse can keep the estate undivided instead of dividing at once
- You can decide how the reserved share is allocated within the value limits
- An emergency oral will is valid only in imminent danger
⚠️ Penalties & fines
It is not punishment but invalidity that is the risk here. A will that breaches the reserved share is invalid to exactly that extent, while the rest can stand. A defect in the witnessing bites harder: then the whole will falls away, and the estate is distributed by law instead of by your wishes. The two witnesses must be present at the same time, and it is not enough that they sign separately the next day. Inheritance disputes are heard by the district court, and it is those left behind who carry both the conflict and its costs — a home-made will is the most common source of exactly that.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Can I disinherit my children?
No. The children have a right to a reserved share, which is two thirds of the estate. But the reserved share is never larger than 15G per child, so in a large estate there is far more than a third that you can actually will away.
How much is the reserved share?
Two thirds of the estate, but limited to 15 times the base amount per child. The cap means the reserved share becomes a smaller proportion the larger the estate is — the fraction and the ceiling apply together, and the lower of them wins.
How do I write a valid will?
It must be written, signed by you and witnessed by two witnesses present at the same time. If the witnessing is defective, the will is void and the estate is distributed by law instead — the formal requirement is no formality.
What does the spouse inherit?
A quarter when there are children, with a minimum of 4G. Without children the minimum is 6G, and a surviving spouse can also choose to keep the estate undivided rather than dividing it straight away.
Is there inheritance tax in Norway?
No. The inheritance tax was abolished on 1 January 2014, so there is no tax to pay on the inheritance itself. What deserves your time is the reserved share and the formal requirements for a will, not the tax — it no longer exists.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “can I will away everything norway”
- “reserved share two thirds”
- “reserved share 15g per child”
- “will two witnesses norway”
- “spouse inheritance minimum”
- “inheritance tax norway abolished”