Foreign Will in Liège: Sworn Translation and Succession Procedure

Do you need a sworn translation of a foreign will in Liège? Liège is a major Belgian city with a long history of immigration from Italy, Morocco, Turkey and Eastern Europe. When a succession involves a will drafted in a foreign language, Liège notaries and courts require a certified sworn translation before the document can be recognised and executed. TranslateBE provides certified sworn translations for Liège succession proceedings in over 70 languages.

Foreign wills in Liège succession proceedings

Liège has one of Belgium's most diverse populations, with significant communities from Italy, Morocco, Turkey, the Democratic Republic of Congo and various Eastern European countries. When a member of one of these communities dies leaving a will drafted in Italian, Arabic, Turkish, or another language, the Liège notary handling the succession requires a sworn translation into French before the estate can be administered.

Belgian law recognises foreign wills under the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 on testamentary form, but the practical requirement for a sworn translation before a Liège notary can act on the will remains absolute. Translations must be prepared by a translator registered in Belgium's national registry of sworn translators and interpreters.

Legal framework: Belgian notarial law and foreign wills

Belgium's participation in the Hague Convention means that a will is formally valid in Belgium if it complies with the law of the place where it was executed, the testator's nationality, or the testator's domicile or habitual residence. The EU Succession Regulation (EU No 650/2012) further simplifies cross-border successions within the EU by providing that the law of the deceased's habitual residence generally applies to the entire succession.

Regardless of which law applies, the foreign will must be translated into French by a certified sworn translator before the Liège notary can include it in the succession file, register it with the Central Register of Testaments, or use it as the basis for an estate distribution.

What Liège notaries require for a foreign will

When you present a foreign will to a Liège notary, they will typically require:

• A certified copy of the original will (apostilled or legalised if required by the country of origin)
• A sworn translation into French by a registered Belgian sworn translator
• Proof of validity under the applicable foreign law
• Any probate certificate, succession certificate or court order from the foreign jurisdiction
• Where applicable, the European Certificate of Succession under the EU Succession Regulation

Languages most requested for Liège succession translations

The most frequently requested languages for sworn translations of foreign wills by Liège notaries and courts reflect the city's immigrant communities: Italian, Arabic (Moroccan and Algerian varieties), Turkish, Romanian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish and Lingala. TranslateBE provides certified sworn translations in all these languages and many more for Liège succession proceedings.

How to order a sworn will translation for Liège

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

Urgency and deadlines in Liège succession files

Succession files are often time-sensitive: estate declarations, inheritance tax returns and notarial deeds all have legal deadlines. TranslateBE offers express sworn translation of foreign wills for urgent Liège succession matters, with delivery within 24 to 48 hours for most common languages. Contact us immediately if you face a tight deadline.