Banks and other institutions usually require a certificate of inheritance after the death of someone. This is the only way they can be sure who is competent with regard to the deceased's assets.
A certificate of inheritance is a certificate issued by a notary public establishing, among other things:
- that someone has died;
- whether or not there was a matrimonial community of property;
- who are the heirs based on any will and research in the registers of civil status and the law;
- whether heirs have accepted the estate;
- who is/are authorised to act and administer or dispose of the estate.
For a bank, presenting a will together with a death certificate is often not enough. The bank cannot assess whether it is the last will and testament. If heirs are not named, the bank also cannot assess who is meant in the will. If the bank could assess all that, the bank still does not know whether an heir has accepted or rejected the estate on a beneficial basis.
For the purpose of issuing a certificate of inheritance, we approach all heirs. We ask them to make their choice known. We also do the necessary research (e.g. in the Central Register of Wills and the municipal personal records database).
In connection with the issue of a certificate of inheritance, we also look into what options are available to save inheritance tax on the basis of the will and/or the law. In a number of cases, you are too late in making that choice if a certificate of inheritance has just been issued.
If there are also assets in other EU countries, a European certificate of inheritance can be issued.
For more information on issuing a certificate of inheritance, please contact us. We will be happy to advise you.
pkooijman@kooijmanautar.nl
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