European Certificate of Succession
Heirs, executors of wills and persons taking care of the property of an estate can use the European Certificate of Succession to prove their position and authority in another EU Member State. The certificate facilitates the management of succession matters when the deceased has property in several EU Member States.
The European Certificate of Succession is issued only after the deceased has died. The certificate shall be issued by the authority of the country having jurisdiction in the matter.
- In general, the court of the Member State in which the deceased was habitually resident at the time of their death shall have jurisdiction over the settlement and distribution of the estate. In this case, the law of that state applies to the settlement of the estate and the distribution of inheritance.
- However, during their lifetime, the deceased may have recorded in their will that their succession is governed by the law of the country whose citizen they are at the time of the recording the entry or death. In this case, the last place of residence is irrelevant in the determination of the law.
Do as follows
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Find out whether you can apply for a certificate from us or whether the matter belongs to an authority in another country
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If we can issue the certificate, fill in the application
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You will always need other documents attached to the application, the contents of which depend on the purpose of the certificate
The necessary clarifications may include:
- Report on the family relationships of the deceased
- Estate inventory deed (if one has been prepared)
- Deed of distribution of property and inheritance
- Will and its notice of service
- Prenuptial agreement and its registration certificate
- Appointment of an estate administrator and/or executor of the distribution of the estate
- A statement of assets located abroad.
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Deliver the documents
Send the application and its attachments to us by secure email and select [email protected] as the recipient. Please note that the maximum size for a secure email message is 50 MB. If the attachments are large, send them in several messages.
You can also send the documents to us by post to the following address: Digital and Population Data Services Agency, P.O. Box 123, FI-00521 Helsinki.
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We will deliver the original certificate to you by post
You can also agree with the processor of your application that you will pick up the certificate from the Helsinki service location at the address Ratapihantie 7, 00520 Helsinki.
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If you would like us to return to you the attached original reports, please remember to ask us for it
We will not return copies.
Frequently asked questions
No, you cannot. It is possible to apply for the certificate of succession only after the person leaving the inheritance has died.
It does not have to be used, but the same information must also be entered in a free format form.
The certificate is either in Finnish or Swedish.
Be prepared to have the certificate translated by an authorised translator.
The certificate is valid for 6 months.
If you do not have time to deal with your case abroad during this period, you can ask us for an extension to the validity of the certificate or a new copy of the certificate. Both are valid for 6 months.
No, you cannot. In that case, the competent authorities for matters of succession are the Spanish authorities. They will give provide you with the certificate.
Contact us
Telephone
Telephone service number is 0295 535 690
Service hours: Mon–Fri 9–15.
The call and the waiting time will cost you the local and mobile rates agreed with your operator.
Please use secure email, if your message contains personal or otherwise confidential information. Choose as the recipient [email protected].
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