International inheritance in Japan can be a very difficult process to navigate. Generally, inheritance procedures in Japan are subject to the law’s of the deceased person’s home country. However, Japanese laws may apply in exceptional cases.
Since the laws of the deceased person’s home country applies, a successor who is entitled to inherit that person’s assets in Japan will need to obtain legal documents to verify their right to inherit the assets. These documents will have to be certified and issued by the governing authorities in the deceased person’s home country. Such documents will be required to make an applications at the Legal Affairs Bureau in Japan for inheritance procedures. These types of inheritance matters are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and it is often difficult to predict in advance what documents Japan’s Legal Affairs Bureau will require to have an application successfully processed. Navigating these inheritance procedures in Japan can be a very difficult process and in most cases it is recommended that advice is obtained from a professional.
If you have questions regarding international inheritance in Japan, please do not hesitate to contact our office to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.