Wilbert Kolkman

Wilbert Kolkman is a Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Groningen. He holds the Chair of Legal Science and Family Property Law, specializing in civil law, family law, inheritance law, and matrimonial property law. His academic roles include visiting professorships at the University of Western Ontario and KU Leuven. He serves as a Deputy Judge at the Court of Appeal Arnhem-Leeuwarden and holds leadership roles in legal organizations such as Cultuurfonds Groningen and RETHINKIN_.

Research Interests: Focuses on family law dynamics, inheritance mechanisms, and property rights within civil law frameworks. Engages in comparative legal studies and practical applications of notarial practices. Active in editorial roles for journals like Family & Law and Tijdschrift Erfrecht.

Awards: Recognized as Lecturer of the Year (2015, 2017) and honored for teaching excellence at the University of Western Ontario. Received the WODC-onderzoek fellowship for research on inheritance rights.

Activities: Leads the Faculty of Law amid structural changes, advises on legal reforms, and collaborates internationally. Engages in public discourse on estate planning, family law disputes, and legal education through media contributions and podcasts.

Labs/Teams: Member of RETHINKIN_, a Flemish research network exploring public interests in private law relationships. Contributes to the User-friendly Private Law research group at the University of Groningen.