Start with the complete document package
Estate inventory, death records, powers of attorney and identity documents may be involved. Request a consolidated document list from the foreign lawyer or authority. Put all requested records into one list before ordering new originals or translations.
What deserves extra attention
Put the estate inventory, death record, will, powers of attorney and identity documents into one list. The foreign lawyer should state whether a European Certificate of Succession can be used and which copies need certification.
Plan the sequence, not only the documents
A document may need to be reissued, signed, certified, apostilled and translated. In some cases translation comes before certification; in others it follows. A shared plan reduces the risk of having to repeat a completed document.
Have this ready
Include the recipient’s checklist or email, document names and issuing bodies, destination country, language requirements and submission deadline. Also state whether you already hold an original and whether any document has already been signed.
- One line per document
- Original or copy requirement
- Who must sign
- Apostille, legalisation and translation
Avoid last-minute problems
Allow time to obtain new public records, resolve questions and send originals. Timing depends on the issuing body, certification, delivery and the recipient’s review, so do not assume that all documents can be processed simultaneously.
