An estate is not settled in a single act, and the order matters. First it is established who inherits, then the declaration goes to the tax authority within the deadline, and only then is the estate divided and registered. Letting it drift does not make the estate go away: it adds heirs, debts and cost, and some assets become impossible to sell in the meantime.
What is covered
Establishing the heirs
The deed setting out who succeeds and in what capacity, with or without a will. It is the document that opens everything else.
Stamp duty declaration
The declaration to the tax authority within the legal deadline, with the schedule of assets. Spouses, descendants and ascendants are exempt, but the declaration is still compulsory.
Deed of division
Dividing the assets where all the heirs agree, including any equalising payments and how the deceased’s debts are handled.
Registering the assets
Recording the property, vehicles and shareholdings in the name of whoever received them, which is what makes them disposable again.
What to bring
These acts are done on the spot when the documents come complete. If one is missing, the act waits until it arrives.
- The death certificate and the will, if there is one
- Birth or marriage certificates for the heirs
- Property tax records, vehicle documents and statements for the deceased’s accounts
This page describes the practice in general terms. Every case turns on its own facts and on the stage it has reached, so nothing here replaces looking at the file itself.