How to Save Thousands of Euros on Notary Fees When Inheriting

When a loved one passes away, in addition to grief, relatives have to deal with numerous administrative formalities. In most cases, heirs entrust these tasks to a notary. However, the notary is only mandatory for two procedures:

📜 Drawing up the certificate of inheritance – a document listing the heirs and their shares in the estate.

🏡 Transfer of property ownership – after the inheritance process is completed, the property is registered in the names of the new owners in the tax office.

✅ A notary is not required for submitting the inheritance declaration

In practice, heirs often also entrust the notary with filing the inheritance declaration with the tax authorities. This relieves them of the complexity of filling out the document but comes with a cost, which depends on the value of the assets. For significant estates, this fee can reach several thousand euros.

👨‍⚖️ When is a notary necessary?
• If the estate is difficult to evaluate.
• If there are potential disputes between heirs.

⚠️ However, if the inheritance is straightforward, the law does not require a notary for this procedure, even if the estate includes real estate.

📝 You can fill out the inheritance declaration yourself

The declaration should include:
✔️ Full details of the deceased and the heirs.
✔️ A list of assets (bank accounts, real estate, etc.).
✔️ A list of debts (taxes, loans, unpaid bills).

📄 Important document: Tax notice 2705-SD will help you correctly fill out the declaration.

💰 How is inheritance tax calculated?
1. The net value of the inheritance is determined (assets minus debts).
2. Each heir’s share is taxed, considering the legal exemptions.
3. Official online tax calculators make it easy to determine the amount owed.

📩 How to submit the declaration?
✅ Sign the document and send it to the tax office in the deceased’s place of residence.
✅ Pay the tax via bank transfer (which requires contacting the tax office in advance to obtain their banking details).

💡 Conclusion: If the inheritance is simple and there are no disputes between heirs, you can save a significant amount by filing the declaration yourself!

📞 Contact me if you would like to assess the property you inherited.