Law & inheritance
Certificate of Inheritance (Erbenbescheinigung)
Also known as: Erbenbescheinigung · Erbschein · certificate of heirship · proof of heirship Switzerland
A certificate of inheritance (Erbenbescheinigung) is the official document stating who the heirs are. It is required before anyone can dispose of estate assets — for banks, property managers, and for commissioning a clearance.
What it is used for
The certificate of inheritance legitimises the heirs towards third parties. Without it, banks will not release accounts, property managers will not accept notice being given on the tenancy, and vehicles cannot be re-registered. We ask for it too — together with the consent of every heir named on it — before we clear an estate.
How to obtain it
It is issued by the competent authority at the deceased's last place of residence — depending on the canton, the district court (Bezirksgericht), the estate office (Erbschaftsamt) or the municipality. It is issued at the earliest once the three-month period for disclaiming the inheritance has expired, because until then it is not settled who will actually remain an heir.
This waiting time is one of the main reasons why estate clearances can rarely happen immediately. If you want to save rent during that period, it is worth checking whether the landlord will agree to an early termination of the tenancy.
What it does not do
The certificate says who is an heir — not who gets what. Who receives which asset is settled by the division of the estate (Erbteilung). And it does not change the unanimity principle: even with the certificate in hand you need the consent of every heir listed on it, unless an executor has been appointed.
A case from our work
After a death in Bülach the relatives want to clear the apartment immediately, because the rent of CHF 1,750 keeps running. The certificate of inheritance only arrives after a good three months. In the meantime the apartment is merely secured. Once the certificate is issued and both heirs have given written consent, the apartment is cleared and handed over within a week.
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