Foreign Will in Brussels: Sworn Translation and Succession Procedure

Do you need a sworn translation of a foreign will in Brussels? Brussels is Belgium's most international city and a hub for cross-border successions involving EU institutions, diplomats, expatriates and multinational families. When a foreign-language will enters Brussels succession proceedings, a certified sworn translation is essential. TranslateBE provides sworn translations of foreign wills for Brussels notaries and courts in over 70 languages.

Brussels: a hub for international successions

Brussels hosts the European Union's main institutions, NATO headquarters and hundreds of international organisations. Tens of thousands of EU officials, diplomats and expatriates live and work in Brussels, many of whom die leaving assets across multiple countries and wills drafted in languages other than French or Dutch.

When such a succession is opened before a Brussels notary, the foreign-language will must be translated into the language of the proceedings - either French or Dutch - by a certified sworn translator. Belgian notaries cannot act on an untranslated foreign document, even where they personally understand the language.

Legal framework for foreign wills in Brussels

Belgium recognises foreign wills under the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 on the Conflicts of Laws Relating to the Form of Testamentary Dispositions. A foreign will is formally valid in Belgium if it complies with the law of the place where it was made, the testator's nationality, or the testator's domicile or habitual residence. Brussels notaries and courts nonetheless require a sworn translation before they can act on the will.

The EU Succession Regulation (EU No 650/2012) applies to cross-border successions within the EU and streamlines recognition of succession decisions. However, it does not remove the need for accurate sworn translation of the underlying documents, which remains a practical requirement in all Belgian succession proceedings.

Brussels notaries and the succession process

Brussels notaries handling international successions are experienced with foreign wills in many forms - holographic wills, authentic wills, notarial wills and international wills under the Washington Convention. They typically require:

• A certified copy of the foreign will (with apostille or legalisation if required)
• A sworn translation into French or Dutch prepared by a registered Belgian sworn translator
• Evidence of validity under the law of the place where the will was made
• Any probate grant, court certification or notarial attestation from the foreign jurisdiction
• The European Certificate of Succession if the succession falls under the EU Succession Regulation

EU officials and international civil servants in Brussels

EU officials and international civil servants often have complex succession situations: they may be nationals of one EU country, domiciled in Belgium under international law, with assets in several countries and a will drafted in their national language. TranslateBE has extensive experience translating wills and succession documents for EU official successions, and our sworn translators are familiar with the specific legal concepts relevant to EU staff regulations and international privileges and immunities.

Languages most requested for Brussels succession translations

Given Brussels' exceptional international profile, the most frequently requested languages for sworn translations of foreign wills include English, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Romanian, Greek, Portuguese and many others. TranslateBE covers all EU official languages and many non-EU languages for Brussels succession translation needs.

How to order a sworn will translation for Brussels

• Send us a clear scan or photo of the foreign will
• We provide a detailed quote within one hour
• We assign a sworn translator registered in Belgium's national registry
• The certified translation is delivered with the translator's stamp, signature and sworn declaration
• Ready for submission to your Brussels notary or the Brussels succession court