Get your certificate of inheritance translated: certified and accepted
You're settling an estate and a bank, a land registry or an authority abroad is asking for your certificate of inheritance in the local language. We deliver the certified translation by sworn translators, with stamp and signature. And you only pay once the translation is in your hands.
Your personal quote by email within minutes
What is a certificate of inheritance and why does it need a translation?
The certificate of inheritance (Erbschein) is an official document issued by the probate court (Nachlassgericht, a division of the local court). It establishes who the heirs are and to what extent. With it, you can prove to banks, land registries and other bodies that you are entitled to dispose of the estate.
A German certificate of inheritance is issued in German. As soon as you use it abroad, the authorities there usually require a translation into the relevant local language. Conversely, a German probate court or land registry needs a German translation when you submit a foreign certificate of inheritance.
Important: a simple translation is not enough here. Authorities and courts only accept a certified translation (also called a "confirmed translation"). Only a translator publicly appointed and sworn in Germany may produce one. With a stamp and signature, they confirm that the translation is complete and accurate. If you have the certificate translated by a non-sworn translator, the document is often rejected and you lose valuable time.
Your certified translation in 5 steps
Send us your document
Upload a clearly legible scan or photo of your certificate of inheritance, or email it to us. You don't need to send the original.
Receive your quote
You'll get your personal quote by email within a few hours. With a fixed price and a transparent delivery time, no hidden costs.
Confirm with one click
In the quote you'll find a button to confirm. One click is enough and the sworn translator gets started. No account needed.
Receive your translation
You receive your certified translation as a PDF by email and the original with stamp by post. Usually within 3 to 6 working days.
Pay at your leisure
The invoice arrives with the translation. You only pay afterwards, conveniently by bank transfer, with 14 days to do so.
When do you need a certified certificate-of-inheritance translation?
Usually you're in the middle of settling an estate: accounts need to be closed, property transferred or an estate dealt with at home or abroad. Here are the four most common situations in which our customers have their certificate of inheritance translated.
German certificate of inheritance for an account abroad
A Spanish or Italian bank asks for your certificate of inheritance with apostille and translation before it releases the account. Often also needed:
Foreign certificate of inheritance for a German court
A certificate of inheritance issued abroad is to be used in Germany, for example to transfer ownership in the land register. The probate court requires a German translation. Often also:
Proof for a German bank
A German bank only accepts your foreign certificate of inheritance with a certified German translation. Civil status documents are often added, for example in:
Exactly which requirements apply depends on the destination country and the relevant authority. For use abroad, the German missions abroad often give specific guidance, for example the Federal Foreign Office. If you're unsure, we're happy to check, free of charge, which language and order makes sense for your case.
What we need for your translation
We don't need much to produce the certified translation. To keep everything running smoothly, it's best to have the following ready.
- A clearly legible scan or photo of your certificate of inheritance, with all pages and seals captured in full
- The target language, i.e. the country or authority where you'll submit the certificate of inheritance
- Any apostille you may already have, ideally scanned together with the certificate of inheritance
Good to know
If the certificate of inheritance is to be used abroad and you need an apostille, it's best to obtain it before the translation, because the apostille is translated as well. If you obtain it afterwards, you often need a second translation. If we translate the document once it's already apostilled, you save yourself this step.
Banks set deadlines, the probate court is waiting. We'll help you quickly.
Reply within a few hours
Your questions, our answers
As a rule, your translation is ready in 3 to 6 working days, depending on length, number of pages and language combination. Allow a little more time if an apostille has to be obtained first, because the apostilled version should then be translated. If you have questions about the delivery time, you can reach us directly by phone, with no hold queue.
A clearly legible scan or photo is enough for us. The translator confirms that it matches this copy, so you don't need to send us the original. For later submission to a court or authority, however, the original or an officially certified copy may be required. It's best to ask there in advance.
Yes. Our translations are produced by translators publicly sworn in Germany and are therefore generally recognised before German courts and authorities, with stamp, signature and certification note. Different rules sometimes apply for foreign authorities, such as a translator recognised in the destination country or an additional authentication. Get in touch and we'll clarify the right requirement for your country.
Only after you've received your translation. The invoice comes together with the finished translation, and you pay afterwards conveniently by bank transfer. You have 14 days to do so. So you hold the translation in your hands first, then you transfer payment.
For use within Germany, no apostille is needed for German documents. For use abroad, many countries require an apostille under the Hague Convention. Often the apostille goes on the certificate of inheritance first, then the entire document including the apostille is translated. Whether you need an apostille depends on the destination country and the relevant authority. You can find more about the apostille on our dedicated page.
Often needed together
A certificate-of-inheritance translation alone is rarely enough. In most inheritance cases you'll need further documents, also as certified translations. We deliver these for you just the same.
Certified translation Spanish
Especially in demand for holiday properties and accounts in Spain, where an apostille and translation are required for the certificate of inheritance.
Certified translation Turkish
Common in inheritance cases with assets or heirs in Turkey, where, besides the certificate of inheritance, death certificates and civil status documents are often needed too.
Apostille
Usually a prerequisite for using the certificate of inheritance abroad. We'll advise you on the correct order.
Get your certificate of inheritance translated, no detours
Your translation is in front of you, only then do you transfer payment. Quote within minutes, delivery in 3 to 6 working days.
Price for your translation