Inheritance, Probate & Wills · European Union
Obtain Your European Certificate of Succession Without the Bureaucratic Runaround
When an estate spans more than one EU country, proving who the heirs are and what they are entitled to can be the hardest part of settling it. The European Certificate of Succession exists precisely for that — a single document recognised across member states that lets heirs and executors prove their rights to banks, registries and authorities abroad. We match you, free of charge, with a vetted lawyer who prepares and obtains it correctly.
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Who this is for
One certificate, recognised across the EU — if it is prepared and applied for correctly
The European Certificate of Succession is a standardised document introduced by the EU Succession Regulation to make cross-border inheritances easier to administer. It records who the heirs and legatees are, what each is entitled to, and who is empowered to administer the estate, and it is recognised throughout the member states that participate in the regulation. For heirs, executors and administrators dealing with a bank account in one country, a property in another and a will in a third, it is often the single most useful document to obtain. The difficulty lies in getting it right: the application must be made to the competent authority, the content must reflect the applicable succession law accurately, and any error can delay the whole estate. A specialist lawyer navigates this precisely.
Why heirs get stuck
The certificate is meant to simplify cross-border estates.
Applying for it rarely feels simple.
Identifying the right authority, presenting the right evidence and getting the content exactly right are where most applications stumble.
You don’t know which authority to apply to
The certificate is issued by the authority in the country whose law governs the succession — but working out which country that is, and which court or notary there actually handles it, is a puzzle in itself.
The application needs the applicable law applied correctly
The certificate must state who inherits under the correct succession law, including any forced heirship rules and any choice of law the deceased made. A mistaken legal analysis produces a certificate that misstates the heirs’ rights.
Banks and registries keep rejecting your documents
Foreign banks, land registries and probate courts often refuse informal documents or translations. The certificate exists to solve this — but it must be obtained, and sometimes translated and validated, in the right form to be accepted.
What you get
A lawyer who gets the certificate right the first time
We only match you with inheritance lawyers who routinely prepare and obtain European Certificates of Succession for cross-border estates.
The applicable law established
Your lawyer first determines which country’s succession law governs the estate and whether any choice of law was made, so the certificate is built on a correct legal foundation rather than an assumption.
A complete, accurate application
The heirs, their shares, and the person empowered to administer the estate are all set out precisely, supported by the right evidence, so the issuing authority can process the application without correction.
The right authority, identified
Your lawyer confirms which court or notary in the correct country actually issues the certificate and submits your application there, avoiding wasted filings in the wrong jurisdiction.
Acceptance by foreign institutions
Where a bank or registry abroad needs a translation, validation or further confirmation, your lawyer handles it so the certificate is accepted the first time it is presented.
Coverage
European Certificate of Succession lawyers
The certificate is recognised across the EU countries that apply the Succession Regulation, but the correct issuing authority depends on the law governing the estate. We match cross-border succession cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
European Certificate of Succession — common questions
What is the European Certificate of Succession?
It is a standardised document introduced by the EU Succession Regulation that records who the heirs and legatees of an estate are, their respective shares, and who is empowered to administer the estate. It is designed to be recognised across the participating EU member states without further formalities.
Who can apply for the certificate?
Typically heirs, legatees, executors and administrators can apply, but eligibility depends on the applicable law. The application is made to the authority in the country whose law governs the succession, usually a court or, in some countries, a notary.
Do I need the certificate for a cross-border estate?
It is not always mandatory, but it is often the most efficient way to prove your rights to foreign banks, land registries and authorities. Whether it is the right tool for your case depends on which countries and assets are involved — a lawyer can advise.
Which country issues the certificate?
Generally the authority in the country whose succession law applies to the estate, which is usually the deceased’s country of habitual residence unless a valid choice of law was made. Establishing this is the first step in any application.
Is the certificate valid in every EU country?
It is recognised in the member states that apply the EU Succession Regulation, which covers most EU countries but not all. Recognition may still require a translation or, in some cases, a certified copy — a lawyer will advise on what your target institution needs.
How long does it take to obtain the certificate?
Processing times vary depending on the issuing authority and the complexity of the estate, from a few weeks to several months. A complete and accurate application prepared by a specialist is the single biggest factor in avoiding delays.
Free case review
Get the document that unlocks a cross-border estate
Tell us about the deceased, the assets and where they are held, and we’ll connect you with a lawyer who prepares European Certificates of Succession — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.