pärimisprotsesside

Pärimisprotsessid refer to the legal procedures involved in the transfer of an estate from a deceased person (the testator) to their heirs. In Estonia, these processes are primarily governed by the Law of Succession (Pärimisseadus). The core of the process involves determining who the heirs are and what assets and liabilities constitute the estate.

There are two main ways a succession can be opened: testate succession, where the deceased has left a will (testament), and intestate succession, where there is no will. In cases of testate succession, the will dictates the distribution of the estate according to the testator's wishes, provided the will is legally valid. If no will exists, the law of intestate succession applies, which generally prioritizes close relatives. The closest relatives are the descendants, then parents and siblings, and so on, following a specific order.

After the death, an heir must formally initiate the succession process by submitting an application to the notary. The notary is responsible for managing the succession proceedings. This typically involves verifying the death certificate, identifying the heirs, and compiling a list of the estate's assets and debts. Heirs have the right to accept or renounce the inheritance. If accepted, the heir becomes responsible for both the assets and any debts of the deceased. The process culminates in the notary issuing a certificate of inheritance (pärimistunnistus), which legally confirms the heir's rights to the estate. The entire process aims to ensure an orderly and legally sound transfer of property.