Inheritance Procedures in Japan: Support in English

If you have inherited real estate or bank deposits located in Japan, you will need to complete the inheritance registration and the bank procedures in Japan. If you live overseas, you may be unsure how to prepare the necessary documents in your own country.

At Kobe Legal Partners, our shiho-shoshi lawyer assists you in English with the inheritance procedures for assets located in Japan. A shiho-shoshi lawyer is a legal professional who specializes in, among other things, real estate registration in Japan, including inheritance registration. We assist clients living in Japan as well as those living overseas.

How Kobe Legal Partners Can Help You

• Confirming the circumstances needed for the procedures, such as the nationality and last place of residence of the deceased and whether there is a will
• Reviewing and collecting the documents required for the inheritance procedures, and translating documents in foreign languages
• Inheritance registration for real estate in Japan
• Inheritance procedures for bank deposits in Japan
• Registration and coordination with a real estate agency when you wish to sell inherited real estate
• Receiving the sales proceeds and other funds, settling expenses, and remitting the funds to the heirs

We collect and translate documents as part of the inheritance procedures we have been engaged to handle. If procedures are also needed in the country of the deceased, we will tell you what we can assist with after hearing about your situation. Please note that coordinating discussions or negotiating among heirs who disagree is the work of an attorney (bengoshi).

If an inheritance tax return or an income tax return for the sale of inherited real estate is required, a certified public tax accountant (zeirishi) will handle it. Depending on the case, we can also prepare and file U.S. reports related to the inheritance. We will let you know whether we can assist, the scope of our services, and our fees after hearing about your situation.

From Your First Inquiry to Completion

First, please let us know the nationality and last place of residence of the deceased, an overview of the assets in Japan, where the heirs live, whether there is a will, and how far the procedures have progressed. You can consult with us even if you do not know some of this information. After hearing about your situation, we will explain what we can handle for you and provide a quote.

After you engage us, we will verify your identity and review the family relationships, the assets, and the necessary documents. If you need to obtain documents outside Japan, we will tell you specifically which documents to obtain and where. Since some documents must be obtained by the heirs themselves, we will need your cooperation in preparing them.

Once the documents are ready, we will proceed with the inheritance registration and the bank procedures. If you wish to sell the real estate, we can work with a real estate agency to look for a buyer while the inheritance registration is in progress. However, the registration of the transfer of ownership to the buyer is made after the inheritance registration.

When the procedures are completed, we will report this to you and deliver the related documents. If we have received the sales proceeds or other funds, we will settle the expenses and remit the balance to the heirs after completing the necessary checks. The time required depends on factors such as the number of heirs, the countries where they live, and how long it takes to obtain documents from abroad.

Fees

Our fees vary depending on the types of assets in Japan, the scope of the procedures you ask us to handle, the number of heirs and the countries where they live, and whether documents must be obtained from abroad or translated. In addition to our professional fees, we will provide a quote that includes other necessary costs, such as registration and license tax, fees for obtaining certificates, translation fees, and remittance fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I consult with you if I live overseas?

Yes. Consultations are available online in English. After hearing about your situation, we will tell you whether the procedures can proceed while you remain overseas and how we will verify your identity.

What should I tell you when I first contact you?

Please tell us the nationality and last place of residence of the deceased, an overview of the assets in Japan (such as real estate and bank deposits), where the heirs live, whether there is a will, and how far the procedures have progressed. You can consult with us even if you do not yet have the family register (koseki) records or certificates issued abroad. We will ask for identification documents after you engage us.

What documents are needed for the inheritance procedures?

You will need documents that confirm the death of the deceased, the family relationship between the deceased and the heirs, and that there are no other heirs, among other matters. Which documents are used depends on the nationality of the deceased, whether there is a will, and the types of assets. We will tell you which documents are needed after hearing about the documents you already have.

Can I sell inherited real estate and receive the proceeds overseas?

Yes. We can work with a real estate agency to sell the property, settle the expenses, and then remit the sales proceeds to your overseas bank account. Before remitting the funds, we will check the necessary documents and the funds. If a tax return is required for the sale, a certified public tax accountant (zeirishi) will handle it. For an example of how this works, please see our case study, “Sale of Inherited Real Estate in Japan and Overseas Remittance of Sales Proceeds.”

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