Civil & Property

Civil Lawyer in Chile

Inheritance, property, contracts and damages claims in Chile — pursued on your behalf by power of attorney, without you booking a flight for every hearing.

Book your consultation → What we handle

Chilean-licensed attorneys Updates in English Handled remotely

Overview

Assets in Chile, life somewhere else

A large share of our civil work comes from people whose family or property is in Chile while they live abroad: an inheritance that has sat unclaimed for years, a property with a title problem, a buyer who never paid, a relative occupying a house nobody has formally divided.

Chilean civil procedure rewards whoever documents first and moves first. We tell you plainly whether a claim is worth pursuing, what it will cost, and how long it realistically takes — then run it under a power of attorney so distance stops being the obstacle.

What we handle

Civil Law services in Chile

Each matter below is handled by Chilean-licensed attorneys and reported to you in English. If your situation is not listed, ask — it usually still fits one of these.

Inheritance & Probate in Chile

Opening the succession, obtaining the possession order, paying inheritance tax and registering assets in the heirs' names. Where heirs disagree, we handle the judicial partition of the estate — including cases where some heirs live abroad.

Real Estate & Property

Title review before you buy, resolving registry defects, boundary and co-ownership disputes, and recovering possession of property occupied without title. Chilean property law is registry-driven, so the paper trail decides the outcome.

Breach of Contract Claims

Someone did not deliver, did not pay, or did not perform. We assess enforceability under Chilean law, quantify the damage, and pursue performance or compensation — with the pre-litigation steps that often settle it faster.

Damages & Liability Claims

Compensation for harm caused by negligence or wrongdoing, including accidents, professional negligence and non-contractual liability. We build the causation and quantum evidence Chilean courts require.

Family Law & Divorce

Divorce, child support, custody and visitation, and the liquidation of the marital property regime — including international cases where the marriage or the assets span two countries.

Leases & Evictions

Recovering property from a non-paying or overstaying tenant, terminating leases, and defending tenants against improper eviction. Chile's special lease procedure is fast when used correctly.

From anywhere

How this works if you are not in Chile

Case assessment

You send us the documents you have. We tell you what applies, what it costs and what the realistic timeline is — before you commit to anything.

Power of attorney

Granted at a Chilean consulate or apostilled where you live. That single document lets us act for you in Chile without you traveling.

We act, you get updates

Filings and hearings are handled by our attorneys in Chile. You receive plain-English updates at every stage, not legal Spanish you have to decode.

FAQ

Civil Law in Chile — common questions

The questions English-speaking clients ask us most about this area.

I inherited property in Chile but live in the US. What do I do first?

The estate has to be formally opened in Chile before anything can be sold, mortgaged or divided — the property stays legally in the deceased's name until the succession is processed and registered. The first step is a document review: the death certificate, any will, the property's registry entry and the list of heirs. From there we tell you the route, the inheritance tax exposure and the timeline. A power of attorney lets us do all of it without you traveling.

Can you sue on my behalf if I never come to Chile?

Yes. A power of attorney granted at a Chilean consulate or apostilled in your country authorizes us to file, appear and act for you. Your personal appearance is only needed in the minority of proceedings where the court requires testimony, and even then remote alternatives sometimes exist.

How long do civil cases take in Chile?

It depends heavily on the procedure. Uncontested successions and lease recoveries are measured in months. Contested partitions, title litigation and damages claims can run considerably longer, particularly if the other side appeals. We give a realistic range for your specific case type and tell you where settlement is usually the better economics.

Is there a deadline to bring my claim?

Yes — Chilean law sets limitation periods that vary by claim type, and some are short. Non-contractual liability, in particular, prescribes faster than most people expect. If you think you may have a claim, the assessment is worth doing now rather than after the period has run.

What does a civil case cost?

We quote a fixed fee for the assessment and a defined fee structure for the proceeding itself, agreed in writing before we start. Court costs and, where required, expert reports are separate and estimated upfront. We will also tell you when a claim is not worth the cost of pursuing it.

Need a civil lawyer in Chile you can actually talk to?

Get an initial assessment in English — confidential, with no obligation.

Book your consultation now →

WhatsApp+56 9 5217 5304

Emailhola@oklegal.cl

HoursMon–Sat 09:00–20:00