What you need to know first
- A doctor must certify the death first; deaths at home need the guardia medica or the deceased's GP, and the comune issues the official death certificate (certificato di morte).
- Funerals in Italy move fast — burial or cremation typically happens within days; a funeral home (onoranze funebri) handles permits and logistics.
- The succession declaration (dichiarazione di successione) is due to the Agenzia delle Entrate within 12 months of the death.
- Foreign nationals: notify the consulate early — it can issue documents for repatriation and register the death in your home country.
The process, step by step
- 1
First 24 hours
Call the GP or guardia medica (or 112 for sudden/unattended deaths) for certification. Choose a funeral home — they obtain the burial/cremation permits from the comune and can move the deceased.
- 2
Certificates and the consulate
Get multiple copies of the certificato di morte from the comune — banks, insurers and the succession all need originals. For foreign nationals, inform the consulate; for repatriation the funeral home coordinates the international paperwork (passaporto mortuario).
- 3
Freeze and inventory the estate
Notify banks (accounts freeze on notification of death), locate any will (an Italian notary can search the national register of wills), insurance policies, and property records.
- 4
Succession declaration — 12 months
File the dichiarazione di successione with the Agenzia delle Entrate within 12 months. Italian inheritance tax is comparatively mild: spouses/children have a €1m per-heir allowance with 4% above it; property transfers pay fixed cadastral taxes. A notaio or commercialista normally prepares the filing.
- 5
Transfer the assets
With the succession filed, banks release funds and property transfers (voltura catastale) proceed. EU succession rules may let the estate be governed by the deceased's national law if their will chose it — relevant for foreign residents.
Handling an Italian estate from abroad?
An English-speaking succession lawyer or notary coordinates the declaration, the forced-heirship questions and the property transfers without you flying back and forth.
The official resources
Where the key steps actually happen.
Consiglio Nazionale del Notariato
Find a notary — wills register and successions
Agenzia delle Entrate — Successioni
Official succession filing portal
FENIOF
National federation of funeral homes
Some links may be partner links — using them never costs you more and helps keep our guides free.
Frequently asked questions
How fast does the funeral happen?
Usually within 2–4 days — much faster than many countries expect. If family must travel from abroad, tell the funeral home immediately; they can arrange refrigeration and adjust permits.
What does repatriation cost?
Typically €3,000–€8,000 depending on destination, handled end-to-end by the funeral home with the consulate. Check the deceased's travel or health insurance — repatriation cover is common.
Who inherits under Italian law?
Italy has forced heirship: the spouse and children are entitled to reserved shares that a will cannot override. But under the EU Succession Regulation, a foreigner's will choosing their national law can often bypass Italian forced heirship for their estate.
What if there's no will?
Italian intestacy rules distribute among spouse and relatives in fixed shares. Heirs accept, accept with benefit of inventory (limiting debt liability), or renounce before a notary or court clerk — do not touch estate assets before deciding, as it can imply acceptance.
Note: This page is general information, not legal, tax or medical advice. Rules and fees change — confirm your personal situation with a professional before acting.