Familial recurrence is one of the classic patterns for the clinical presentation of congenital heart disease (CHD). In recent years, many groups studied empiric recurrence risk in these heart defects, and the aim of this review was to analyse the patterns of inheritance detected in different types of CHD, including atrioventricular canal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries, left-sided obstructions and atrial septal defect. These studies may influence clinical practise guidelines through accurate genetic counselling, but also, they may have important implications in the knowledge of genetic and pathogenetic mechanisms of CHD.