The paper describes the tendencies of the development of testamentary law throughout history, starting from ancient times to the present day. It has been established that testamentary law first appeared in ancient Greece and Rome. Although it had certain characteristics of modern testamentary law, there were also certain differences, such as the fact that only male heirs could be heirs and that at the beginning of the development of testamentary law, the institute of compulsory inheritance was not known. One of the first trends in the development of testamentary law was the abolition of testamentary disposition the introduction of a necessary part of inheritance. Testamentary law also developed in the medieval period in the area of the Republic of Croatia. Modern testamentary law, as it is known today, has its roots in the 18th and 19th century. Over time, the prerequisites for the validity of wills, conditions for excluding heirs, various types of wills, and more have been developed. Today, there are still certain directions in which testamentary law is evolving, and many experts believe it should reflect the characteristics of modern times and social patterns.