European Certificate of Succession (ECS)
The Regulation EU No 650/2012 envisages that the Certificate of Inheritance should constitute a valid document for the recording of succession property in a register of a Member State (recital 18).
Following previous approaches, ELRN has found diversity in the LR systems. It was found that this Certificate may be enough itself for registration, or may be enough together with additional requirements or deeds, or not enable it at all.
Considering this information, the following fact sheet includes the legal answers of the impact of the Certificate for the purposes of registration in different LR systems.
This fact sheet is divided into 2 chapters:
- Registration of certificate of inheritance
- Closest equivalent rights and adaptation
- Adaptation principle
- ECS and national legislation
Edited 2014
Updated 2017
New chapters added 2020/2022
For your consideration:
EU publications: Practice Guide on Successions
Cross-border successions
A citizen’s guide : how EU rules simplify international inheritances
This guide is intended for anyone involved in or affected by a cross-border succession, particularly those planning their own succession and heirs. It is a practical guide that aims to answer the most commonly asked questions. The guide does not cover every possible scenario; you are thus advised to consult a professional in cross-border successions to discuss the details of your specific situation.
For more languages, click here.
