Inheritance and succession investigations in Milan.

The opening of an inheritance succession frequently triggers complex civil disputes among co‑heirs, exacerbated by informational asymmetries and asset opacity. Although Italian civil law irrevocably reserves an undisposable portion of the deceased's estate (the legitime share) for the closest relatives, such as the spouse and children (art. 536 c.c.), effective protection of this right is impossible without knowing the exact and actual composition of the real assets belonging to the de cuius at the time of death.

Very often, third parties or cohabiting family members who have assisted the deceased in the last years of life carry out evasive maneuvers aimed at depleting the estate before death, through unjustified withdrawals, fictitious registrations or simulated donations. Arcadia Company, an investigative agency operating with a Prefectural License pursuant to art. 134 TULPS, conducts in‑depth economic‑asset investigations and genealogical‑documentary checks to map the real inheritance structure, providing law firms and legitime heirs with the evidence needed to initiate reduction actions and restore the entitled shares.

Investigative intervention areas in inheritance disputes

Arcadia Company's operational protocol is designed to reveal the historical and financial reality of the asset relationships attributable to the deceased, addressing three strategic macro‑areas:

• Reconstruction of the estate and tracing of hidden assets: We go beyond formal succession declarations to identify omitted or concealed assets. The investigation maps the presence of national and foreign bank accounts, safe deposit boxes, insurance and investment policies, as well as valuable registered movable assets (boats, luxury cars) or corporate holdings registered in the name of nominees or placed through speculative legal structures.
• Verification of lifetime donations and simulated disposition acts: In order to invoke the collazione institute (art. 737 c.c.) or the reduction action (art. 553 c.c.), we document direct or indirect liberalities made by the deceased in favor of certain parties. We ascertain the true nature of false real‑estate transactions that actually conceal donations intended to evade the legitime heirs' rights.
• Assessment of the validity of the holographic will: When testamentary documents appear anomalously or late, we coordinate forensic graphology examinations in collaboration with certified professionals. The examination aims to verify the handwriting of the text, the actual dating, and the existence of material alterations, as well as to gather elements useful to demonstrate a possible natural incapacity of the testator or the existence of a circumvention of an incapacitated person (art. 643 c.p.).

Forensic relevance of advanced asset investigations

In civil proceedings, the burden of proof regarding the infringement of the legitime share or the simulation of an act rests entirely on the heir who initiates the suit. Appearing at hearing based on mere conjecture leads to the rejection of evidentiary requests.

Arcadia Company adopts a multidisciplinary approach that combines advanced documentary analysis (historical extracts, cross‑checking of chamber, cadastral and mortgage data) with specific field intelligence activities and OSINT (Open Source Intelligence). This enables us to isolate the path of financial flows and identify assets unlawfully alienated. The Forensic Investigative Dossier issued at the end of the assignment constitutes an organic evidentiary body, ready to be filed in court as incontrovertible documentary proof.

Criminal protection and falsity profiles: If the graphological and documentary investigation reveals the apocryphal nature of a will, the conduct constitutes criminal relevance under art. 491 c.p. (falsity in holographic wills, bills of exchange or credit titles). The evidence crystallised by Arcadia Company enables the support of private prosecutions equipped with absolute technical rigor, triggering criminal action and precautionarily freezing the disposition of the inherited assets.

Professional synergy and regulatory compliance

Each inheritance investigation is carried out in full compliance with the European GDPR and the guidelines issued by the Garante per la protezione dei dati personali. The legal basis that legitimises the processing of the deceased’s and co‑heirs’ personal data lies in the necessity to exercise the right of defence in judicial proceedings.

We work in constant coordination with the client’s family law attorneys, notaries and tax advisers, ensuring that every collected element fits perfectly into the planned defence strategy. For a detailed regulatory overview of the protections and duties related to inheritances, the institutional channels of the Consiglio Nazionale del Notariato can be consulted.

Assert your inheritance rights with solid evidence

Facing a contentious succession requires clarity and the support of objective asset data. Arcadia Company conducts a preliminary feasibility study for each case, analysing the available documentation to structure a targeted and efficient action plan, avoiding waste of time and financial resources.