Succession Register

Succession register is national electronic register, which contains the data on testaments, succession agreements and succession deeds. The holder of the succession register is the land registry department of Tallinn City Court. The succession register started its activities on <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />October 1, 1996, and the information has been issued since January 1, 1997.

The entries into the succession register are made on the basis of submitted notifications. The notary public or official of the consular representation authorized to perform notarial procedures shall be obliged to present to the succession register no later than the first working day following the attesting of the testament or succession agreement or submission of the testament for storage or extraction from storage the notification with the following data:

• testator’s first name and surname;
• testator’s date and place of birth;
• type of document entered into the register;
• name of notary public and address of notary’s office.

The entries pertaining to home testaments, their amendment or nullification shall be made in the register upon the application of the performer of the testament or the person, to whom the performer of the testament has conveyed the testament for storage.

The data pertaining to testament and succession agreement is kept secret until the opening of the legacy.

The information concerning the data entered into the succession register is provided following the documented justification of the testator’s death. In case of spouses’ bilateral testament the information is provided following the death of one of the spouses. Any person can receive information from the succession register. For familiarization, it is necessary to present an identification document and death certificate.

In its work, the succession register follows the Succession Act enacted on January 1, 1997 and „Order for presentation of data to the succession register“ approved by the regulation of the Minister of Justice No. 26 of October 3, 1990.