COST ESTIMATES
Deed of Real Estate Succession
See the costs for this deed after a death.
Open the calculation module (new tab)
To begin with
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A bank must know who has the right to the money and which checks are necessary. The death certificate alone does not answer that question.
"You only investigate whether your decision may rest on what has actually been organised today."
Your questions, step by step
Blocked accounts can cause extra concern after a death. We help you understand which documents the bank needs and which urgent payments you can discuss.
Why do I go to the notaire for this?
The bank must know who is authorised and which formalities are required. The office can determine the inheritance succession and assist in identifying any missing documents.
How are bank accounts released after a death?
Report the death to the bank and request their specific list of required documents.
Discuss urgent invoices and the required inheritance succession document.
Have the necessary instructions given by the authorised persons.
How does this proceed and how long does it take?
There is no fixed release period. It depends on the case, possible blocks and bank requirements.
Ask separately which urgent payments are already possible.
Which documents should I provide to the notaire?
Prepare what you already have. You do not need to wait until your folder is complete to make an appointment.
Is a document missing or do you not know where to find it? Check the help for each document. We will discuss what the office can obtain for you and what you still need to provide yourself.
Where can I find this?
Request the document from your bank or download it from your own online banking environment. State the date and file reference. Provide statements, never passwords or access codes.
Where can I find this?
Provide what you already have from the municipality, bank or notaire. If a document is missing, provide the name, date and place of death. The office will check what it can obtain itself.
Where can I find this?
Provide the complete version with date, attachments and later amendments. Do you not have this document or do you not know if it exists? Select “Help needed” and discuss it with the office.
Where can I find this?
Request the document from your bank or download it from your own online banking environment. State the date and file reference. Provide statements, never passwords or access codes.
Where can I find this?
Provide the complete version with date, attachments and later amendments. Do you not have this document or do you not know if it exists? Select “Help needed” and discuss it with the office.
These check marks only remain on the opened page and are not sent to the office.
Open the checklist: ready, need help or not applicableWhat does the notaire do and investigate?
- Who inherits and who can give instructions?
- Which blocks and approvals apply?
- Which urgent costs can be discussed with the bank?
- What is needed for release and what remains for the division?
We agree on which searches the office will conduct and which information you, your bank or another expert will provide.
What do I check before the next step?
Release is not yet division. Check who must agree and which payments are made from the estate.
What else must I arrange afterwards?
Keep balances, payment proofs and statements. Coordinate closure of accounts, tax returns and division.
Which practical tips can help me?
Do not use the deceased's bank card or access code. Discuss payments directly with the bank.
What do these words mean?
- Release
- the bank allows transactions again once the conditions are met.
- Division
- the heirs receive their agreed or determined share.
Where can I find more explanation or help?
You do not have to phrase your question in legal terms. Tell what concerns you, what you want to arrange and if an important date is approaching.
We will look together at the next step. We agree in advance on how the office will assist you and what costs are involved.
Ask your question to the officeMake an AppointmentGeneral explanation for your preparation. The rules and documents that apply to you are determined based on your file.
On this page
Why does the bank block?
After notification of the death, the bank blocks accounts and safes of the deceased. This prevents money disappearing before the rights of those involved are clear. Ask the bank what consequences there are for your own and joint accounts.
An old bank power of attorney or the access code of the deceased is not a solution to circumvent this. Have the bank explain which payments are still possible and by which procedure.
Which document is needed?
The bank requests a certificate of inheritance from the Federal Public Service Finance or a notarial deed of inheritance. The free certificate is possible if conditions are met, including no will, inheritance agreement or marriage contract and no incompetent heirs. In other cases, a notarial deed is necessary.
Relevant debts are also examined. If debts have been reported, it must be considered how they will be settled. After issuance, the bank still requests the required instructions and any powers of attorney.
Practical tip. Ask in advance which documents the bank requires. This way you avoid having to make a second appointment even when you have the correct certificate, because a power of attorney is missing.
How do you pay urgent costs?
For a surviving spouse or legally cohabiting partner, an advance option exists: up to half of the relevant blocked funds, with a total limit of €5,000. Have the application confirmed across all banks combined. The bank can also pay certain invoices directly, such as medical expenses of the deceased. Ask what is possible in your situation.
A simple example
A partner must pay ongoing expenses, but the account is blocked. The first step is to ask the bank about the legal advance and payable invoices. Transferring money yourself using the deceased’s codes does not replace that procedure.
Practical tip. Arrange the due dates of urgent invoices and provide the bank with the invoices themselves. Request in writing which payments they will execute.
Who follows up on the release?
The notaire and the office
Within the assignment, prepares the deed and discusses legal questions or obstacles. Coordinates which bank contacts the office will make.
You as heir
Provides the names of the banks and their correspondence. Arranges practical agreements and instructions which remain with you.
Release is not yet a division. Money may become available while agreements on each person’s share or on usufruct are still needed. Ask where the money will go and on what basis before you sign instructions.
What do you concretely ask the bank?
- Which accounts are affected and what does that mean for my own income?
- Which urgent invoices can be paid directly?
- Which certificate, which deed and which powers of attorney are still missing?
- What fees does the bank charge for handling?
- To which account will the funds be transferred, and have all required persons consented?
Calculate first, discuss afterwards
USEFUL FOR YOUR PREPARATION
Use the official tools at Notaris.be. Cost estimates are indicative; discuss the result for your specific case.
HEIRS
Inheritance guide
Explore who inherits according to the legal rules. This is not a cost calculation.
Open the Inheritance Guide (new tab)Frequently Asked Questions
FROM READING TO PREPARATION
Already a first answer.
What can I do if many things happen to me at once?
Start with one overview: contacts, received letters, ongoing appointments and questions. Use the topics and checklist on this page to divide the preparation. Immediately mention dated letters to the office.
Must one heir collect everything alone?
You can divide practical tasks among yourselves and keep track of who has which information. That alone does not indicate who may legally act. Discuss with the office who provides information and who should be involved in decisions.
Where can I find help with administration?
Our separate page about administration after death bundles practical information for subscriptions and services. The inheritance guide also assists you with the documents for the notaire and the progress of the declaration.
Help with subscriptions and administrationEASY PREPARATION
Your checklist: banking matters after a death
Which documents do you prepare, where do you find them and when can the office assist? Indicate what you have and where you need support.
Useful websites on this topic
RELIABLE CONTINUED READING
View sources and practical websites
Notaris.be · Inheritances and giftsExplanation from the Belgian notariat about estates and wealth planning.Flemish Tax Administration · Inheritance TaxOfficial information on declaration, calculation and payment of the Flemish inheritance tax.Flanders · Certificate or deed of inheritance successionSee which document is required and which authority you can contact.
FROM FIRST QUESTION TO NEXT STEP
You do not have to figure it out alone.
Getting an overview
We bring together those involved, available documents and your questions.
Understanding choices
We discuss what needs to be examined and which decisions lie ahead.
Further settlement
We agree on which formalities the office will handle and what else is required from you.
View my preparation
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