Inheritance, wills and
thoughtful everyday support.
We support inheritance and wills in Japan, including complex matters involving relatives or assets overseas. We clarify the situation and connect you with the necessary professionals, from everyday procedures to cross-border issues.
Clear, careful support for inheritance and wills
If you are unsure where to start, we review family records, assets and heirs step by step and organize the documents and order of procedures.
Family records & heir research
We collect family registers and related records from the deceased’s birth to death and establish the statutory heirs and their relationships.
Legal heir information chart
We prepare a chart from family records and support submission to the Legal Affairs Bureau, reducing the paperwork needed for procedures at banks and other institutions.
Estate division agreements
Based on terms already agreed between heirs, we organize deposits, property, shares and other assets and prepare the written agreement.
Asset inventories & procedure planning
We list assets and debts and identify the procedures required at banks, insurers and for changes of ownership.
Handwritten wills
We discuss your wishes and help prepare a draft, considering formal requirements and how to identify assets.
Notarized wills
We help collect documents, organize your wishes and coordinate with the notarial office to prepare for future succession.
Inheritance and family matters involving overseas countries
Documents and authentication methods vary by jurisdiction where heirs live abroad, relatives have foreign nationality or assets are overseas.
Overseas family relationships & heir research
We check the purpose and receiving authority for foreign birth, marriage and death certificates and other family records, and organize how to obtain, translate and authenticate them. Local authorities and professionals are involved where needed.
- Establish relationships with overseas heirs and foreign relatives
- Help obtain foreign civil-status certificates
- Prepare inheritance relationship charts and family evidence
- Translations, apostilles, seal authentication and consular legalization
- Coordinate the process where overseas assets are involved
- Work with professionals and authorities in Japan and overseas
Available records and authentication methods vary by jurisdiction and receiving authority. We check each case before proceeding.
How inheritance procedures proceed
We determine the appropriate scope for each matter and use the documents you already have to plan a practical sequence.
Marriage, divorce, adoption & family procedures
We organize documents and receiving authorities for Japanese family matters and procedures involving foreign nationality or overseas authorities.
Administrative procedures
for your family’s circumstances
We check foreign systems and Japanese notifications for marriage, divorce by agreement, adoption and overseas family or civil-status procedures.
One point of contact, the right professionals
Inheritance and family matters can involve registration, taxation and disputes. Hokuto organizes the overall matter and coordinates with the appropriate professionals.
Reserved professional work is handled by appropriately qualified partner professionals.
Plan inheritance, wills and family procedures with us.
For matters in Japan or involving overseas countries, tell us about your situation.