Estate Inventory Documents – Required Paperwork
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Mandatory documents
The foundation of the estate inventory is the deceased's family record from age 15 to the date of death and civil registry certificates for all estate shareholders. These establish the heirs and the shareholders' identities. Additionally, any will in its original form or a certified copy and any prenuptial agreement are needed.
The estate notifier must also obtain the deceased's most recent tax decision, which provides an overview of the deceased's financial situation.
Asset documents
To determine the deceased's assets, bank balance certificates from the date of death are needed for all accounts, book-entry account balance certificates for investments, and insurance company notifications of death benefit claims and endowment life insurance policies. For real estate, a title certificate and preferably also the tax authority's property information are needed. For housing company shares, a building manager's certificate is needed.
Family records and civil registry certificates
The family record is ordered from DVV and covers the deceased's entire life from age 15. It shows all marriages, children, and any adoptions. Civil registry certificates for shareholders can be ordered from DVV or from parishes if the person is a church member. Obtaining the family record typically takes 1–4 weeks, so it should be ordered immediately.
Documents for special situations
If the deceased had multiple marriages, partition documents or the deceased spouse's estate inventory deed are needed for earlier spouses. For a deceased entrepreneur, the company's financial statements and any shareholder agreements are needed. For foreign assets, certificates from the relevant country's authorities must be obtained and translated into Finnish if necessary.
Obtaining documents
Documents can be ordered personally or by authorising a lawyer or estate administrator to handle the orders. DVV's family records are ordered online or by post. Bank balance certificates are obtained by requesting them on behalf of the estate with a power of attorney. Insurance companies usually send claim information automatically to the estate. Property title certificates can be obtained electronically from the National Land Survey's service.
Frequently asked questions
What documents are needed for an estate inventory?
At minimum, an estate inventory requires the deceased's family record (sukuselvitys) from age 15 to the date of death, civil registry certificates for all shareholders, any will and prenuptial agreement, bank balance certificates from the date of death, title certificates for real estate, book-entry account balance certificates for investments, insurance company notifications of death benefit claims, and the deceased's most recent tax decision. The more carefully the documents are compiled, the smoother the estate inventory proceeds.
Where can the family record be obtained?
The family record (sukuselvitys) is ordered from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV). It covers the deceased's life from age 15 to the date of death and shows all marriages, cohabitations, children, and other heirs. If the deceased belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran or Orthodox Church before 1999, some records may be found in the parish archives. Obtaining the family record typically takes 1–4 weeks, so it should be ordered immediately after the death.
Is a bank balance certificate needed from the date of death?
Yes, it is needed. A balance certificate must be requested from every bank where the deceased had an account, showing the situation as of the date of death. The balance certificate shows the account balance and any credit exactly at the time of death. The bank provides the certificate to an estate shareholder or authorised person. The certificate is subject to a fee, typically EUR 30–50 per bank.
What if the deceased had no will?
If the deceased did not make a will, the inheritance is distributed according to the statutory order of succession under the Code of Inheritance. This does not remove the obligation to conduct an estate inventory — the inventory must always be performed after a death. The estate inventory deed notes that no will exists. The statutory order of succession means that the inheritance goes primarily to direct heirs, i.e. children and their descendants.
Is the previously deceased spouse's estate inventory deed needed?
If the surviving spouse dies and the first deceased spouse's estate inventory deed was prepared, it is needed for the second spouse's estate inventory. The first deceased's estate inventory deed shows the marital property subject to equitable distribution and any partitions performed. If no partition was made after the first spouse's death, it must be performed in connection with the second spouse's estate inventory. Any prenuptial agreement also affects the division of assets between the estates.
Read also
The estate inventory must be conducted within three months of the deceased's death. Learn about calculating the deadline, consequences, and requesting an extension.
Key duties of the estate administrator: estate management, documents, estate inventory, and inheritance distribution. Who can serve as estate administrator?
How is real estate handled in an estate inventory? Learn about property valuation, tax value, fair market value, and required documents.