European Union

I inherited property in Italy but live in France. How do I prove my rights?

6 months
Deadline to accept inheritance in Italy
EU Reg 650/2012
Governing succession law
1 ECS
Valid across all EU states
3 months
Typical ECS issuance time
The Short Answer

You can prove your inheritance rights in Italy using a European Certificate of Succession (ECS), issued by competent authorities in France or Italy, which is recognised across the EU.

What the Law Says

EU Regulation (EU) No 650/2012 governs cross-border successions and introduces the European Certificate of Succession (ECS) as a key instrument to prove inheritance rights across member states.

If you inherited property in Italy but live in France, EU law applies because both countries are EU members. The regulation determines which country’s law governs the succession (usually the deceased’s habitual residence at death) and ensures mutual recognition of decisions and documents.

The European Certificate of Succession is a standardised legal document that proves your status as heir, legatee, executor, or administrator. It can be used in Italy to register property, access bank accounts, or sell assets — without needing additional national certifications.

The ECS may be issued by a competent authority in any EU Member State — including French notaries — provided they have jurisdiction under the Regulation. You do not need to go to Italy to obtain it.

Statutory Text

This Regulation shall apply to succession to the estates of deceased persons, with the exception of matrimonial property regimes and trusts.

— Regulation (EU) No 650/2012, Art. 1(1)
Statutory Text

The European Certificate of Succession shall be issued by the competent authority in a Member State… and shall be recognised in all other Member States without any special procedure being required.

— Regulation (EU) No 650/2012, Art. 62(1)

Sources

statuteRegulation (EU) No 650/2012, Art. 1 and Art. 62 — on jurisdiction, applicable law and recognition of the European Certificate of Succession

Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.