International Succession in Bruges: Documents to Translate

Dealing with a cross-border estate in Bruges? This historic Flemish city, a draw for international residents and investors, sees a growing number of international successions each year. Sworn translation of succession documents in Bruges is essential for local notaries and proceedings before the Ghent Court of Appeal.

International succession in Bruges: context and specifics

Bruges is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has made it a magnet for international tourism, cultural investment and heritage-property purchasing. A significant number of British, French, Dutch and American residents have settled in Bruges or the West Flemish hinterland, attracted by the quality of life and the proximity to both Brussels and the Channel ports. When these residents pass away, their estates frequently straddle Belgium and their country of origin.

The Bruges district also has a historically significant lace and textile industry with international commercial networks, and the nearby port of Zeebrugge connects the region to global trade. These factors combine to make cross-border succession a routine matter for Bruges notaries.

EU Succession Regulation 650/2012 and Bruges notaries

EU Succession Regulation 650/2012 has applied since 17 August 2015 and simplifies the legal framework for cross-border successions within the EU by designating the law of the country of habitual residence as the governing law. The European Certificate of Succession issued by a Belgian notary is recognised throughout the EU. However, Bruges notaries and the Ghent Court of Appeal continue to require sworn translations of all foreign-language documents submitted as part of Belgian succession proceedings.

For successions involving assets in the United Kingdom - increasingly common after Brexit - the Regulation no longer applies on the UK side, making sworn translations of British probate documents (grants of probate, letters of administration) essential for their recognition in Belgium.

Notaries and courts in Bruges for international successions

• Notaries of the Bruges/West Flanders district: Bruges notaries handle regular cross-border estate files, particularly for British, French and Dutch residents of the region.
• Bruges Court of First Instance: handles civil succession disputes in the West Flemish arrondissement, sitting exclusively in Dutch.
• Ghent Court of Appeal: the appellate court for succession matters arising in the entire West Flanders judicial district.
• Federal Public Service Finance - Bruges office: handles inheritance tax declarations for estates in the West Flemish provinces.

For the broader Belgian legal context, see our national article on international succession translation in Belgium.

Documents frequently translated for Bruges international successions

• British grants of probate and letters of administration (translated Dutch for Belgian notaries)
• French actes de notoriété and attestations héréditaires
• Dutch (Netherlands) notarial deeds and verklaringen van erfrecht
• Foreign death certificates and civil status documents
• Foreign wills and testamentary dispositions
• Foreign property title deeds and land registry certificates
• Powers of attorney from heirs residing in the UK, France, the Netherlands or further afield

Turnaround times and pricing

• Standard delivery: 2 to 5 working days
• Express delivery: 24 to 48 hours on request
• Pricing: from €80 per document depending on length and language pair
• File-based quotations available for multi-document estates