A death in the family turns your world upside down. And then there is the paperwork. What needs to happen first, what can wait, and what can you delegate entirely? This guide lays everything out chronologically, from the first 24 hours to closing the inheritance declaration, with the Belgian rules for Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia.
First 24 to 48 hours
Official confirmation of death
A doctor must confirm the death. At home, you call the family doctor or, outside hours, the on-call service. In a hospital or care home, the treating physician handles this. They issue a medical death certificate.
Declaration to the municipality
The death must be declared within five working days to the municipality of the place of death. Often, the funeral director takes care of this with a power of attorney. You then receive several extracts of the death certificate, which you will need for banks, insurers and the inheritance declaration.
Organising the funeral
If you appoint a funeral director, choose someone who provides a clear written quote. Funeral costs are deductible from the estate, up to a legal cap. Keep the invoice carefully.
First week
Notify employer and social bodies
- Employer: of the deceased and, if applicable, your own to request bereavement leave.
- Health insurance fund: for any benefits and the end of certain rights.
- Pension service: the pension is stopped automatically via the Crossroads Bank, but a survivor's pension must be claimed.
- Unemployment bodies if applicable.
Contact insurers
- Life, mortgage, hospitalisation: the policy decides who receives what. Formally request payment.
- Car, fire and family liability insurance: report the death so the policy can be transferred to the heir or cancelled.
Notify banks
Once you notify the bank, the deceased's accounts are blocked, including joint accounts. This is a legal obligation pending the certificate of inheritance. Read how to unblock a bank account after death.
First month
Certificate of inheritance
To unblock bank accounts and receive any payouts, you need a deed of inheritance (notarial) or an attestation of inheritance (from the FPS Finance). The attestation is free and suffices for simple situations (no will, no marriage contract with attribution clause, no minor or incapable heirs). More on this.
Accept or refuse decision
You have three choices: accept outright, accept under benefit of inventory, or refuse. This is critical when there is doubt about debts in the estate. Read our guide on these three choices.
Search the Central Register of Wills
A notary or an heir can check the Central Register of Wills (CRT) to see whether a registered will exists. Our guide to searching for a will.
Between one and four months
Build the inventory
You list the deceased's full assets and liabilities. This is the basis for the inheritance declaration.
Prepare and file the inheritance declaration
The declaration must be filed within four months after the death in Belgium. Five months for a death elsewhere in the EEA, six months elsewhere. More on deadlines.
The competent region depends on the deceased's tax residence in the five years before death:
- Flanders: file with VLABEL.
- Brussels or Wallonia: file with the FPS Finance.
Nalenta guides you through the form.
After four months
Assessment notice and payment
After your declaration is processed, you receive an inheritance tax assessment notice. You have two months from the date of issue to pay before late-payment interest accrues. More on payment.
Transfer real estate
A house or land from the estate must be put in the heirs' names via a notarial deed. This is a separate step from the inheritance declaration itself.
Close or transfer ongoing contracts
- subscriptions (phone, internet, energy, water, cable);
- insurance no longer relevant;
- real-estate rights such as long lease or usufruct in specific situations.
The timeline in one table
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 0 to 5 days | Municipal declaration, death certificate, funeral arrangements |
| First week | Employer, health fund, pension service, insurers, banks |
| First month | Attestation or deed of inheritance, accept/refuse choice, CRT lookup |
| 1 to 4 months | Inventory and inheritance declaration |
| After 4 months | Assessment notice, payment within 2 months, real-estate transfer |
Common mistakes
- Cancelling contracts too quickly while they are still needed for ongoing operations.
- Forgetting unknown insurance policies. Check old folders and ask the employer about a group policy.
- Ignoring the four-month deadline in the hope the tax authority will be lenient. It is not.
- Not keeping copies of everything you send. Save every email reply.
Nalenta does this with you
In Nalenta you get a dashboard with all your deadlines, a personal next best action and a guided form for the declaration itself. 129 euros one-time, no VAT. For region-specific rules, see Flanders, Brussels or Wallonia.