International Inheritance, Wills & Succession

Where heirs, assets or wills span several countries, we identify the jurisdictions and procedures involved and coordinate with relevant professionals.

First checks in an international inheritance

Applicable law, evidence and receiving authorities depend on the deceased’s and heirs’ nationalities and addresses, the place of death, asset locations and whether there is a will. Many countries have no system equivalent to Japan’s family register, so it is important to establish early which documents can prove inheritance relationships.

Common situations

• A foreign national dies leaving assets in Japan
• A Japanese national dies leaving overseas property, deposits or interests
• Some heirs live overseas
• A foreign will needs to be used in Japan
• Japanese inheritance documents need to be submitted overseas
• Planning wills and succession for a future cross-border inheritance

Services we provide

• Organize the parties, assets, nationalities, addresses and wills
• Help collect family registers, birth, marriage and death certificates, and affidavits
• Prepare relationship diagrams, asset inventories and agreements recording agreed estate division
• Arrange signature certification and authentication for heirs overseas
• Prepare translations, notarization, apostilles and consular legalization
• Organize documents for banks and other institutions
• Lifetime planning including wills, voluntary guardianship and post-death arrangements

How we proceed

1. Establish the heirs and assets in Japan and overseas
2. Check wills, applicable law and each country’s procedures
3. Collect identity and inheritance evidence
4. Prepare translations, authentication, agreements and explanatory documents
5. Coordinate the next steps with financial institutions, registration and tax professionals

Disputes, registration and taxation

Disputes between heirs are handled by attorneys; property registration by judicial scriveners; and inheritance tax and international taxation by certified tax accountants. We organize facts and documents as administrative scriveners and coordinate with these and overseas professionals as needed.

Planning ahead

Cross-border succession requires considering not just the form of a will but whether it can be implemented where the assets are located. We review family circumstances, residence plans and assets, and explain options such as a Japanese notarized will, the handwritten-will deposit system and the possible need for a will overseas.

Eligibility, required documents and review periods vary by nationality, receiving authority and circumstances. We assess your situation at the initial consultation and explain the appropriate approach.