Sworn translation of international inheritances: Which documents to translate and in what order
If a relative has passed away leaving assets or a testament in another country, it is usually necessary to obtain a sworn translation of five groups of documents, in the following order: the death certificate, the certificate of last wills or its foreign equivalent, the will (or, if there isn’t one, the declaration of heirs), the succession document that estabishes who inherits, and the asset documents. Before ordering anything, it is advisable to confirm with the notary or lawyer which documents will be required and whether they must be apostilled, as the apostille must be placed before translating.
We understand that people looking for a sworn translation of international inheritances are often going through a difficult time while dealing with administrative procedures. In this article, we explain the documentation process clearly and without unnecessary jargon. This does not replace legal advice: decisions regarding the inheritance are up to your notary or lawyer, while we ensure that your documents arrive translated and legally valid.
At Translinguo Global, an official translation agency, we work with official translators certified by the Spanish MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and have over 10 years of experience in the sector. Our translators are familiar with all the documentation and procedures required to carry out your translation with the highest guarantees, ensuring its acceptance by the relevant authorities.
Which documents to translate in an inheritance with assets abroad
An inheritance with assets abroad brings together documents from two or more countries, and each Spanish authority requests its own. The notary needs to verify the death and identify the heirs; the Land Registry, the title that allows the registration of real estate; and the Tax Agency, the data required to settle the tax. This table summarizes the most common requirements.
| Document | Who requests it? | Apostille? | Sworn translation? |
| Death certificate | Notary, Civil Registry, banks | Yes, if outside the EU; no, between EU Member States | Yes, unless an accepted multilingual form |
| Certificate of last wills or equivalent | Notary | Depending on the issuing country | Yes |
| Testament | Notary, Property Registry | Yes, outside the EU; exempt if it is an EU succession document | Yes, complete |
| Declaration of heirs o foreign succession title | Notary, Registry, Tax Agency | Same as testament | Yes |
| European Certificate of Succession | Notary, Registry, banks | No | Confirm with the authority |
| Deeds, titles and asset statements | Registry, Tax Agency, banks | Depending on the case | Yes, if they are in another language |
The general rule for sworn translation of international inheritances is simple: any document in anothe language presented to a Spanish authority requires a sworn translation, and every foreign public document requires an apostille or legalization unless exempt by law. European exeptions are explained below.
Certificate of last wills: traducción y equivalentes en el extranjero
In Spain, the certificate of last wills indicates whether the deceased made a testament and before which notary. According to the Ministry of Justice, it can only be requested after fifteen business days have passed since the date of death. Many countries have equivalent registries, while others have no central registry at all, in which case the notary may request an alternative declaration or certification. In practice, the translation of the certificate of last wills is one of the first things the notary requests, because without it, it is impossible to know which testament is valid.
Is a sworn translation required for the death certificate?
Almost always. The death certificate with a sworn translation opens the file at the notary, banks, and insurance companies. Between EU member states, the Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 eliminates the apostille and provides for multilingual forms that can avoid translation if the authority accepts them. We explain this in detail in our article about sworn translations of death certificates.
Testate and intestate succession: in what order to translate
Whether or not a will exists changes the documents that must be gathered, although the sequence of sworn translation of international inheritances is similar. Translating in the correct order prevents paying twice for documents that might later change and allows the notary to move forward while the others arrive
- Death certificate, apostilled if applicable.
- Spanish certificate of last wills and its foreign equivalent.
- Testament, as an authorized copy; or, without the testament, the declaration of heirs.
- Succession title that verifies the heirs or the executor.
- Asset documentation: deeds, bank certificates, and valuations.
| Aspect | Testate succession | Intestate succession |
| Central document | Testament | Declaration of heirs or equivalent |
| Foreign examples | Will with a grant of probate | Letters of administration, Erbschein |
| Documentary risk | That a later testament exists | Insufficient proof of kinship |
| Added documents | Authorized copy and registry of testaments | Birth and marriage certificates |
Does a sworn translation of a will need to be full?
Yes. The sworn translation of a will includes the entire document: clauses, notarial certificates, stamps, marginal notes and the apostille itself. Translating only the clauses that seem relevant is a frequent mistake, as the notary needs to verify the formal validity of the complete document.
Apostille, legalization, and European Certificate of Succession
The apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature on a public document within the countries party to the Hague Convention; in other countries, legalization through diplomatic or consular channels is required. In both cases, the apostille or legalization must be placed first, and the sworn translation of international inheritances is done afterward, including it.
We have explained the differences in our articles on how to apostille and legalize foreign documents and on the legalization of foreign documents in Spain. Within the EU, the landscape changes: the Regulation (EU) n.º 650/2012 applies to deaths occurring as of August 17, 2015, in all member States except Denmark and Ireland, and its article 74 excludes legalization and similar formalities for succession documents issued under its framework.
Does the European Certificate of Succession avoid the sworn translation of international inheritances?
It significantly reduces it, but it does not always eliminate it. The European e-Justice Portal explains that the certificate is issued by the authority handling the succession and is recognized in all member States without any special procedure. It is a standardized form, but the free-text sections or accompanying documents may require a translation, so it is advisable to check with the notary or the registry before considering the matter resolved. For more general information, visit the section on successions of the e-Justice portal.
What we see in international inheritance files
Before quoting a sworn translation for international inheritances we review the entire file. These are the issues that cause the most delays in cases and the mistakes we see repeated by families, notaries, and administrative agencies.
Documentation that is often missing
- The apostille from the country of origin, which forces the translation to be repeated if it is added afterward.
- The foreign equivalent of the certificate of last wills.
- Proof of kinship in intestate successions: birth or marriage certificates.
- Authorized copies: photocopies or scans arrive with no legal validity.
Circumstances that complicate the case
Handwritten testaments, which can be difficult to read and require additional procedures in Spain; inheritances with assets in multiple countries, which multiply languages and requirements; names transcribed differently in each document; and common law jurisdictions, with concepts such as the executor, probate, or trust, which have no exact equivalent under Spanish law. In these cases, the sworn translator retains the original term and adds an explanatory note, rather than forcing an equivalence.
Common mistakes
- Translating the testament and forgetting the rest of the file.
- Translating before apostilling.
- Ordering standard translations from a non-sworn translator.
- Using different spellings of the deceased’s name in each translation.
When is it not advisable to translate yet?
When it is not yet known which country will handle the succession, when the certificate of last wills is missing and a later testament might appear, or when the document is pending an apostille. In those cases, we advise waiting for the notary to confirm the list: translating beforehand can mean paying twice.
Typical case: a family in Madrid inherits a property in Alicante from a father who resided in England. They arrived with the English testament already translated, but the notary also requested the grant of probate, the death certificate, and their apostilles. Ordering the sworn transaltion of international inheritances from the beginning would have avoided the second round of orders.
How an inheritance sworn translator works
An inheritance sworn translator is a professional appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, whose signature and stamp grant official validity to the sworn translation of international inheritances in Spain. You can check the appointments on the official list of sworn translators and interpreters
At Translinguo Global, as a specialized translation agency, we review the file, ensure consistency of names and dates across all documents, and deliver the sworn translation of international inheritances either in hard copy or with an electronic signature, depending on what the authority accepts. If you have doubts about its digital validity, our article on how to verify a sworn translator online will help you; and if you need to tell the services apart, we explain the difference between legal and certified translation.
For notaries, administrative agencies and probate law firms, we operate as a regular translation company provider, combining our sworn transaltion service with the legal translation service for reports and correspondence. When the inheritance includes real estate or corporate shares, we also coordinate the translation of deeds for foreigners and the legalization of deeds.
How long does a sworn translation of international inheritances take?
It depends on the number of documents, the language, and whether they are apostilled. An official inheritance translator can prioritize the documents that are blocking the process, such as the death certificate, while moving forward with the rest. We send you the quote in less than 24 hours, with the delivery deadline for each document.
Translating Inheritances: one document at a time, in the correct order
An international inheritance can feel like a labyrinth when everything arrives at once, but it becomes organized with a clear sequence: death certificate, certificate of last wills, testament or declaration of heirs, succession title, and assets. The sworn translation of international inheritances works best when it follows that order and when the notary confirms beforehand what is required.
Remember that there are deadlines running from the date of death, such as the Inheritance Tax deadline, which your administrative agency or lawyer will point out to you. If you need to start right away, request a quote and we will get back to you in less than 24 hours. If you are a notary , administrative agency, or law firm contact us to work with a trusted sworn translator.
And if you have doubts about a specific document, consult our sworn translation service and we will guide you with no obligation at Translinguo Global, a sworn translation agency.
Suscríbete a nuestro boletín
Recibe contenidos sobre traducción profesional, localización web, SEO multilingüe e internacionalización para empresas.
