Low Testamentary Culture in Mexico
Mexico’s testamentary culture is quite low, with only six out of every 100 people legally inheriting their assets nationwide, and in Mexico City, this figure barely reaches 20%, according to the National Commission for the Protection and Defense of Users of Financial Services (Condusef).
Even the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCDE) confirms that Mexico is among the economies with the lowest testamentary culture within the organization. As every year since 2003, the campaign “September, Testament Month” is celebrated, allowing Mexicans to formalize their patrimonial succession contract with multiple facilities such as discounts and free advice.
What is a Will?
According to the Colegio Nacional del Notariado Mexicano, a will is an act where an individual designates, before a notary, who will become the owners of their assets and properties after their demise, turning them into beneficiaries of their patrimonial estate. This act is considered a solemn, unilateral, personal, and free legal act.
With a will, upon the testator’s death, assets are more easily transferred to those designated and in the proportion they arranged, thereby protecting their patrimonial estate. Yadira Aideé Huerta Reyes, a professor at the Faculty of Law at UNAM, points out two beliefs that hinder its adoption. Firstly, the perception of it being an expensive and tedious process. Secondly, perhaps more importantly, the superstition that creating a will invites death.
“In Mexico, the idea of approaching death is a taboo. The common reaction when mentioning a will is to think it presages an imminent end,” Huerta Reyes explains.
What Happens if You Don’t Have a Will?
If you pass away intestate, that is, without a will, the State will oversee what happens to your material possessions, which are typically distributed according to a formula and often results in half of your estate going to your spouse and the other half to your children, as explained by BBVA’s analysis team.
This situation can sometimes lead to the sale of material possessions, negatively affecting some beneficiaries. Moreover, if you have minor children, complications may arise as someone might be appointed as a representative to look after the children’s interests. Therefore, it is crucial to keep your will in a secure and accessible place.
Cost of a Will Across Mexico in September 2025
Given the low testamentary culture, many Mexicans might be unaware of the costs associated with drafting a will. Here’s a breakdown of the approximate costs for creating a will in various states during September 2025:
- Baja California: 1,500 pesos plus IVA (September-October)
- Baja California Sur: 2,600 pesos (September)
- Campeche: 1,800 pesos for seniors and 2,400 pesos for the general public (September)
- Chiapas: 1,000 pesos plus IVA for the general public and 700 pesos plus IVA for seniors (100 days starting September 1st)
- Chihuahua: 507 pesos for a holographic will (September)
- CDMX:
- 3,800 pesos with a notary (September-October)
- Dirección General de Regularización Territorial (DGRT): from 707 pesos (all year)
- Coahuila: 1,800 pesos; free for firefighters and police (September)
- Colima: Offers up to 50% discount; government eliminated full right payment for testament registration during the promotion period (September-October); approximate cost is 2,400 pesos
- Durango: 1,500 pesos plus IVA (September and October with prior appointment)
- Edomex: 1,000 pesos for seniors and 2,000 pesos for the general public (September)
- Guanajuato: 2,600 pesos for seniors, women, and migrants; 3,300 pesos for the general public (September-December)
- Guerrero: 500 pesos for seniors and 1,500 pesos for the general public (September)
- Hidalgo: 950 pesos plus IVA for seniors; 2,500 pesos plus IVA for the general public and 500 pesos plus IVA for security public forces’ equipment (September-December)
- Jalisco: 2,300 pesos (September 1st to October 10th)
- Michoacán: 3,000 pesos (September-October)
- Morelos: 700 pesos plus IVA for seniors, migrants, and high-marginalization individuals; 1,000 pesos plus IVA for the general public (September-October)
- Nayarit: 2,450 pesos for universal testament; 3,266 pesos for testament with specific dispositions or legacies; 862 pesos for seniors (September-October)
- Nuevo León: Suggested cost: 3,500 pesos (September)
- Oaxaca: 1,000 pesos for assets up to 1.5 million pesos (September)
- Puebla: 1,800 pesos (September)
- Querétaro: 3,000 pesos (September)
- Quintana Roo: 3,000 pesos plus IVA (September-October)
- San Luis Potosí: 2,500 pesos; additional discount for Cuerpo de Bomberos, Cruz Roja, and security public forces’ personnel and Secretary of Public Security and Citizen Protection (September-December)
- Sinaloa: Free for vulnerable women with a DIF letter; 1,000 pesos with a DIF letter and 2,000 pesos for the general public (September)
- Sonora: Free for holographic will; 50% discount with a notary from a regular cost of 3,870 pesos (September)
- Tabasco: Between 2,500 and 3,000 pesos (September)
- Tamaulipas: 3,000 pesos as universal heir (September)
- Tlaxcala: 2,000 pesos (September)
- Veracruz: 1,500 pesos for the general public and 1,200 pesos for seniors and members of the Armed Forces (September-October)
- Yucatán: Free for holographic will; 2,200 pesos with a notary for the general public and 2,000 pesos for seniors, people with disabilities, nursing staff, paramedics, and operational personnel of the Secretary of Public Security (September)
- Zacatecas: Offers up to 75% discount; however, the price is not specified. In 2023, it was reportedly the most expensive in the country at 3,720 pesos, according to Profeco data (September)
It’s essential to consult with a notary or legal professional in your area for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding will costs and procedures.
