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Lifetti covers Spain, Germany, France, Netherlands, and Italy with country-specific crisis guides and bureaucracy checklists for expats.

How long do I have to file the dichiarazione di successione?

12 months from the date of death. This is a critical deadline - late filing incurs penalties starting at 60% of the tax due plus interest (currently around 2.5% annually). The declaration must be filed with the Agenzia delle Entrate and lists all assets, debts, and heirs. Even if no tax is due (common for close family), the declaration is still required. A commercialista or CAF can prepare and file this for you for €300-1,000.

How much is inheritance tax in Italy in 2025?

Italy has very favorable rates for close family. For spouses and children: each heir has a €1,000,000 exemption, paying only 4% on amounts above that. For siblings: €100,000 exemption per heir, then 6%. For other relatives: 6% with no exemption. For non-relatives: 8% with no exemption. Property is valued at cadastral value (valore catastale), which is typically 30-50% of market value, significantly reducing the tax burden. Most Italian families pay little to no inheritance tax.

Can I access the deceased's bank accounts before succession is complete?

Generally no. Italian banks freeze accounts immediately upon being notified of a death to protect the estate. However, some banks may release limited funds (€3,000-5,000) for funeral expenses if you present the death certificate and funeral invoice - policies vary by bank, so ask. You cannot use their bank cards, online banking, or withdraw money after death, as this is illegal. Accounts remain frozen until you provide the bank with the filed dichiarazione di successione and proof that heirs have accepted the inheritance.

What is beneficio d'inventario and should I use it?

Beneficio d'inventario is a form of conditional acceptance that limits your liability to only the value of assets you inherit. Without it, you inherit both assets AND all debts with unlimited personal liability. With beneficio d'inventario, if debts exceed assets, you only pay debts from the inherited assets, protecting your personal wealth. It requires a notarial act or court declaration (costing €100-500) and you must create a formal inventory. Highly recommended if there's any uncertainty about debts, business liabilities, or the deceased's financial situation.

Do I need a notaio for inheritance in Italy?

Not always required, but commonly needed. A notaio is mandatory for: publishing (reading) a holographic will, creating a Declaration of Heirs if there's no will and heirs need court determination, and accepting inheritance with beneficio d'inventario. For property transfers, while the notaio doesn't handle the succession itself, one may be consulted for complex situations. The succession declaration itself can be filed by a commercialista or CAF without a notaio. For simple estates with a will and no disputes, you may not need a notaio at all.

What documents do I need for Italian inheritance?

Essential documents include: death certificate (certificato di morte) from the Comune (request 10+ copies), the will if one exists (testamento) obtained from the notaio or Archivio Notarile, complete list of all assets and their values (bank statements, property deeds, vehicle registrations, investment accounts), IDs and codice fiscale of all heirs, family relationships proof (birth certificates, marriage certificate, family book), latest tax returns of deceased, property documents (visura catastale, atti di provenienza), and any outstanding debts documentation. The commercialista will provide a complete checklist when preparing your succession declaration.

Can foreigners inherit property in Italy?

Yes, foreigners can inherit Italian property with no restrictions. EU and non-EU heirs follow the same inheritance process and pay the same taxes as Italian citizens. EU Succession Regulation 650/2012 typically applies the law of the deceased's habitual residence, but you can choose Italian law in your will. You must still file the dichiarazione di successione with the Agenzia delle Entrate and pay Italian inheritance tax. Foreign heirs may need to obtain an Italian codice fiscale (tax ID) for the process. Property transfers and tax obligations are identical regardless of heir nationality.

What is TFR and how do heirs claim it?

TFR (Trattamento di Fine Rapporto) is severance pay that Italian employers must pay when employment ends. If the deceased was employed, TFR is owed to the heirs and can be a significant amount - roughly 7% of annual salary for each year worked. Contact the employer's HR department with the death certificate and proof of heir status to claim. If the deceased worked for a large company (50+ employees), TFR may be held by INPS in the Fondo di Tesoreria - contact INPS to claim. Payment is usually made within 1-3 months. TFR is part of the estate and must be declared in the dichiarazione di successione.

What to Do When Someone Dies in Italy: Guide 2025

Quick Overview

When a parent dies in Italy, you must register the death within 24 hours at the Comune (municipality) and obtain multiple death certificates (certificato di morte). The inheritance process requires filing a dichiarazione di successione (succession declaration) with the Agenzia delle Entrate within 12 months, followed by updating the Catasto (land registry) within 30 days. Inheritance tax (imposta di successione) is favorable for close relatives: spouses and children are exempt on the first €1,000,000 per heir, with only 4% tax above that threshold. Italy requires working with a notaio (notary) for will authentication and property transfers, with total costs ranging €2,000-6,000 for funerals plus €300-1,500 for legal and administrative processing.

Key Facts

Critical deadline

12 months to file dichiarazione di successione (succession declaration)

Total cost range

€2,500-7,500 (funeral €2,000-6,000 + legal/admin €300-1,500)

Required professionals

Notaio (for wills), Commercialista or CAF (for succession declaration)

Timeline

3-12 months for complete process (simple estates)

Government agencies

Comune, Agenzia delle Entrate, INPS, Catasto, Conservatoria

Inheritance tax

Spouse/children: €1M exempt per heir, then 4% | Siblings: €100k exempt, then 6%

How It Works

What to Do When Someone Dies in Italy

The Italian inheritance process is less formal than Spain but requires careful attention to administrative deadlines. After registering the death at the Comune within 24 hours, you can search for a will (testamento) through a notaio or the Archivio Notarile. The most critical requirement is filing the dichiarazione di successione with the Agenzia delle Entrate within 12 months of death - this is a detailed tax declaration listing all assets, debts, and heirs. A commercialista (tax accountant) or CAF can prepare this for €300-1,000. Once filed, you have 30 days to complete the voltura catastale (cadastral transfer) for any properties. Italy's inheritance tax is very favorable for close family: spouses and children each have a €1,000,000 exemption, paying only 4% on amounts above that threshold. Property is valued at cadastral value (valor catastale), which is typically 30-50% of market value, further reducing tax burden. Heirs can accept the inheritance fully, accept with benefit of inventory (beneficio d'inventario - limiting liability to inherited assets), or reject it entirely. The beneficio d'inventario is strongly recommended if there's any possibility of unknown debts, as Italian law makes heirs liable for all debts of the deceased.

Critical actions in the first days

Obtain death certificate (certificato di morte)

A doctor issues the death declaration, then register at the Comune (municipality).

Contact funeral home (agenzia funebre/pompe funebri)

Arrange funeral or cremation services.

Notify employer if applicable

Inform employer to handle TFR (severance) and final salary.

Administrative and estate matters

Search for will (testamento)

Check with notaio or Archivio Notarile.

Notify banks

Inform all banks about the death.

Notify INPS (Social Security)

Report death to stop pension and apply for reversibilità.

Notify ASL (health service)

Cancel health card (tessera sanitaria).

Estate settlement

Decide on accepting or rejecting inheritance

You can accept fully, accept with benefit of inventory (beneficio d'inventario), or reject.

File dichiarazione di successione (succession declaration)

Required tax declaration to Agenzia delle Entrate.

Pay inheritance tax (imposta di successione)

Tax on inherited assets.

Update Catasto (land registry) - voltura catastale

Transfer property to heirs in cadastral records.

Register at Conservatoria (property registry)

Formal registration of property transfer.

Ongoing and longer-term tasks

Transfer or deregister vehicle

Transfer to heir via ACI/Motorizzazione.

Transfer or cancel utility contracts

Electricity (ENEL), gas, water, phone.

Apply for pension reversibilità (survivor pension)

Surviving spouse/children may be entitled.

Claim TFR (severance) if applicable

TFR is paid to heirs if deceased was employed.

What to Do When Someone Dies Costs in Italy (2025)

Funeral/burial services€2,000-6,000

Varies by region - shop around for quotes

Death certificates (10+ copies)€0-30

First copies usually free

Will search at Archivio Notarile€50-100

If searching for will

Notaio fees for will publication€100-300

If will exists and needs authentication

Commercialista for succession declaration€300-1,000

Prepare and file dichiarazione di successione

CAF assistance (alternative)€200-500

Lower-cost help with succession declaration

Voltura catastale (cadastral transfer)€55 per property

Due within 30 days of filing succession

Conservatoria registration€200-250

Property registry registration fee

Inheritance tax (imposta di successione)Varies by relationship

Spouse/children: 4% above €1M per heir; Siblings: 6% above €100k; Others: 6-8%

Property valuations€100-300 per property

If needed for tax purposes (usually cadastral value used)

Patronato servicesFree

Free help with INPS survivor pension applications

Avvocato (lawyer)€1,000-3,000+

Only for complex estates or disputes

Total

€2,500-7,500 for straightforward estates (funeral €2,000-6,000 + legal/admin €300-1,500). Complex estates with professional disputes may cost €5,000-15,000+.

Service	Cost	Notes
Funeral/burial services	€2,000-6,000	Varies by region - shop around for quotes
Death certificates (10+ copies)	€0-30	First copies usually free
Will search at Archivio Notarile	€50-100	If searching for will
Notaio fees for will publication	€100-300	If will exists and needs authentication
Commercialista for succession declaration	€300-1,000	Prepare and file dichiarazione di successione
CAF assistance (alternative)	€200-500	Lower-cost help with succession declaration
Voltura catastale (cadastral transfer)	€55 per property	Due within 30 days of filing succession
Conservatoria registration	€200-250	Property registry registration fee
Inheritance tax (imposta di successione)	Varies by relationship	Spouse/children: 4% above €1M per heir; Siblings: 6% above €100k; Others: 6-8%
Property valuations	€100-300 per property	If needed for tax purposes (usually cadastral value used)
Patronato services	Free	Free help with INPS survivor pension applications
Avvocato (lawyer)	€1,000-3,000+	Only for complex estates or disputes
Total estimate	€2,500-7,500 for straightforward estates (funeral €2,000-6,000 + legal/admin €300-1,500). Complex estates with professional disputes may cost €5,000-15,000+.

*Inheritance tax in Italy is very favorable for close family members. Property valued at cadastral value (typically 30-50% of market value), not market value. Prices current as of January 2025.

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Notaio

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Tax assistance center - lower cost help

Patronato

Free help with INPS procedures

Avvocato

Lawyer for complex estates or disputes

What to Do When Someone Dies

Key Facts

How It Works

Immediate Steps (First 24-48 Hours)

Obtain death certificate (certificato di morte)

Contact funeral home (agenzia funebre/pompe funebri)

Notify employer if applicable

First Week

Search for will (testamento)

Notify banks

Notify INPS (Social Security)

Notify ASL (health service)

First 3 Months

Decide on accepting or rejecting inheritance

File dichiarazione di successione (succession declaration)

Pay inheritance tax (imposta di successione)

Update Catasto (land registry) - voltura catastale

Register at Conservatoria (property registry)

Administrative Tasks

Transfer or deregister vehicle

Transfer or cancel utility contracts

Apply for pension reversibilità (survivor pension)

Claim TFR (severance) if applicable

What to Do When Someone Dies Costs in Italy (2025)

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Key Facts

How It Works

0%ImmediateImmediate Steps (First 24-48 Hours)0 of 3 tasks completed

Immediate Steps (First 24-48 Hours)

Obtain death certificate (certificato di morte)

Contact funeral home (agenzia funebre/pompe funebri)

Notify employer if applicable

0%Week 1First Week0 of 4 tasks completed

First Week

Search for will (testamento)

Notify banks

Notify INPS (Social Security)

Notify ASL (health service)

0%Month 1-2First 3 Months0 of 5 tasks completed

First 3 Months

Decide on accepting or rejecting inheritance

File dichiarazione di successione (succession declaration)

Pay inheritance tax (imposta di successione)

Update Catasto (land registry) - voltura catastale

Register at Conservatoria (property registry)

0%AdministrativeAdministrative Tasks0 of 4 tasks completed

Administrative Tasks

Transfer or deregister vehicle

Transfer or cancel utility contracts

Apply for pension reversibilità (survivor pension)

Claim TFR (severance) if applicable

What to Do When Someone Dies Costs in Italy (2025)

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