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mayo 13, 2026

Succesion

Sworn translators registered with the Italian Court

Sworn Translation of Inheritance & Succession Documents — English to Italian

Sworn, certified and legalised translation of wills, grants of probate, letters of administration, inheritance certificates and succession declarations from English into Italian — for cross-border estates involving Italy. Free shipping across Italy.

Request a free quote
from €76
Succession document
48–72h
Standard delivery
17+
Languages available
100%
Online, door-to-door

Sworn translation of succession documents: everything you need to know

Do you need a sworn translation of a will, grant of probate, letters of administration or other inheritance document from English into Italian? Our firm — Traduttori & Avvocati Associati, based in Rome — handles the entire process: from the professional translation of your succession document, to the sworn oath (asseverazione) before a Court clerk at the Tribunal of Rome, to legalisation or the Apostille when required.

Cross-border inheritances are among the most complex legal matters. Unlike traditional translation agencies, our firm brings together sworn translators registered with the Italian Courts and lawyers specialising in international and succession law. Every translation is reviewed for both linguistic accuracy and legal precision, ensuring the correct rendering of legal, tax and property terminology specific to inheritance matters — and bridging the fundamental differences between common law and civil law systems.

We translate all types of succession documents from English into Italian — and from Italian into English. The service is fully online: you send a scan of your documents and receive the sworn translations delivered to your door.

Inheritances with international elements — heirs living abroad, real estate in multiple countries, foreign nationals with assets in Italy — almost always require sworn translations. Our firm, combining translation expertise with legal knowledge, is the ideal partner for these matters.

When do you need a sworn translation of succession documents?

A sworn translation of succession documents is required whenever an inheritance matter involves international elements. Here are the most common situations:

Claiming an inheritance in ItalyIf a relative has passed away leaving assets in Italy (property, bank accounts, investments), you will need sworn Italian translations of the grant of probate, the will and other succession documents to deal with Italian banks, notaries and the land registry (catasto).
Italian succession declaration for foreign heirsWhen one or more heirs reside abroad, the Italian succession declaration (dichiarazione di successione) and notarial deeds may need to be translated into English for the heirs to understand them or to present to authorities in their country of residence.
Foreign will to be enforced in ItalyA will drafted in English (UK, US, Australia, etc.) can be valid in Italy, but it must be sworn-translated into Italian and published through an Italian notary. The grant of probate or letters testamentary must also be apostilled and translated.
Bank accounts and investmentsItalian and foreign banks require sworn translations of succession documents to release the deceased’s accounts, deposits and investments. This is one of the most time-sensitive needs in cross-border estates.
EU Regulation 650/2012 — cross-border successionsFor cross-border successions within the EU, the European Certificate of Succession (ECS) facilitates recognition, but supporting documents often still need to be sworn-translated for the authorities of individual Member States.
Renunciation of inheritanceIf an heir living in the UK, US or another English-speaking country needs to renounce an Italian inheritance — or accept it with benefit of inventory — the relevant deeds must be sworn-translated for the Italian or foreign authorities.

Which succession documents do we translate?

We provide sworn translations of any document related to inheritance and succession matters. The most commonly requested include:

Grant of Probate / Letters of Administration The court order issued in common law jurisdictions (England & Wales, US, Australia, Ireland, etc.) that confirms the authority to administer the deceased’s estate. This is the most commonly requested document when dealing with Italian assets after a death abroad.
Will / Last Will and Testament The deceased’s will, whether drafted in the UK, US, Australia or another English-speaking country. A sworn Italian translation is required for publication by an Italian notary and for enforcement in Italy.
Italian succession declaration (Dichiarazione di successione) The Italian tax return filed with the Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) listing heirs, the deceased’s assets and the applicable taxes. Foreign heirs often need this translated into English to understand their rights and obligations.
European Certificate of Succession (ECS) The certificate provided under EU Regulation 650/2012, issued by the competent authority of an EU Member State, proving the status of heir or legatee. Although designed for cross-border circulation within the EU, national authorities may still require its translation.
Notarial deeds and court orders Deeds of acceptance or renunciation of inheritance, partition agreements, affidavits of heirship, death certificates, court orders appointing executors or administrators — both Italian and foreign.
Property and land registry documents Land registry extracts (visure catastali), cadastral maps, planning certificates and other property documents that accompany the succession declaration for the transfer of real estate ownership.

If you have a succession document not listed above, send us a scan and we’ll confirm whether we can translate it.

Common law and civil law: why succession translation requires specialist expertise

Translating inheritance documents between English and Italian is not simply a linguistic exercise — it requires a deep understanding of two fundamentally different legal systems:

🇬🇧 Common law systems (UK, US, Australia, Canada, Ireland) In common law countries, succession to movable property follows the law of the deceased’s domicile, while immovable property follows the law of the place where it is located (lex rei sitae). The estate is administered through a court-supervised process: probate (if there is a will) or letters of administration (if there is no will). An executor or administrator collects the assets, pays debts and taxes, and distributes the remainder to the beneficiaries. Key terms: grant of probate, letters testamentary, personal representative, executor, administrator, beneficiary, residuary estate, specific legacy, intestacy.
🇮🇹 Civil law system (Italy) In Italian law, heirs acquire ownership of the estate automatically at the moment of death — there is no probate procedure or court-supervised administration. The heirs file a dichiarazione di successione (succession declaration) with the Revenue Agency for tax purposes and then transfer ownership of individual assets through a notary. Key terms: erede, legatario, successione legittima, successione testamentaria, quota di riserva (forced heirship), accettazione con beneficio d’inventario, rinuncia all’eredità, voltura catastale.
Our translators have specialist training in both systems. We don’t just translate words — we identify the correct functional equivalents between common law and civil law concepts, ensuring that Italian notaries, banks and authorities understand exactly what a grant of probate or letters of administration means in their legal framework, and vice versa.

Apostille and legalisation of succession documents

Before your succession documents can be sworn-translated and used in Italy, they generally need to be authenticated in the country where they were issued:

✓ Hague Convention countries (Apostille) If your document was issued in a Hague Convention country (UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, etc.), you need an Apostille from the competent authority — e.g. the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in England & Wales, the Secretary of State in the US, or DFAT in Australia. The apostilled document can then be sworn-translated into Italian.
⚠ Non-Hague countries (consular legalisation) If your document was issued in a country that has not signed the Hague Convention, it must undergo consular legalisation: authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the issuing country, followed by the Italian Embassy or Consulate in that country. Only after legalisation can it be sworn-translated in Italy.

Important: the Apostille or legalisation must be applied to the original document before the sworn translation is made. We handle the translation, the sworn oath and the legalisation of the translation in Italy. For Italian documents being used abroad, we also manage the Apostille on the sworn translation via the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Procura della Repubblica) and the Prefecture (Prefettura).

How the sworn translation process works

1

Send us your succession documents

Email, WhatsApp or upload clear scans of your grant of probate, will, succession declaration or any other inheritance document through our quote form. You don’t need to send the originals — we can work from legible copies. You’ll receive a free quote within a few hours.

2

Specialist legal translation

A sworn translator with legal training and specific expertise in succession law translates your document into Italian, faithfully rendering all legal, tax and property terminology. For common law documents (probate, letters of administration), the translator identifies the correct functional equivalents in Italian civil law.

3

Legal review

A lawyer from our firm reviews the translation for legal accuracy, checking the rendering of technical terms and ensuring consistency with the terminology used in Italian and international succession proceedings.

4

Sworn oath at the Tribunal (asseverazione)

The translator appears before a Court clerk at the Tribunal of Rome and takes a sworn oath declaring the translation to be faithful and accurate. The legally required revenue stamps are applied (included in the price). The translation now has full legal validity in Italy.

5

Legalisation or Apostille (if required)

If the sworn translation needs to be used abroad or presented to a foreign consulate in Italy, we handle the legalisation of the Court clerk’s signature at the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Procura della Repubblica) and, if necessary, the Apostille at the Prefecture (Prefettura).

6

Delivery to your door

You receive the sworn translation as a digitally signed PDF (eIDAS-compliant) by email, plus the original hard copy with stamps and signature, shipped free of charge anywhere in Italy. International shipping is also available.

How much does a sworn translation of succession documents cost?

from €76 succession document

The cost of a sworn translation of succession documents depends on the type of document, the language and the number of pages. Wills, grants of probate and succession declarations are complex legal documents requiring specialist expertise. Send us a scan of your documents for an exact quote — it’s free and you’ll hear back within a few hours.

* The price includes translation, legal review, sworn oath at the Tribunal and revenue stamps (marche da bollo). Free shipping within Italy.

Why choose us for your succession document translation

Sworn translators with legal training

Every translator is registered with the Italian Courts and has specific training in succession, tax and property law. They understand the terminology of both common law and civil law systems.

Legal review included

Every succession translation is reviewed by a lawyer from our firm specialising in international law — a guarantee of legal accuracy that standard translation agencies simply cannot offer.

Cross-border succession specialists

We regularly handle translations for international estates: British or American nationals with property in Italy, Italian emigrants with assets in multiple countries, wills in multiple languages, UK probate for Italian assets.

Common law expertise

We understand the specific concepts and procedures of English-speaking legal systems — probate, letters of administration, grants of representation, executors, administrators — and their functional equivalents in Italian law.

100% online

You don’t need to visit the Court or our office. Send your documents online and receive your sworn translations delivered to your door, wherever you are.

End-to-end service

Translation, legal review, sworn oath, legalisation, Apostille — we handle every step. Our firm can also provide legal advice on cross-border succession matters.

We translate succession documents in all languages

While this page focuses on English–Italian translations, we offer sworn translations of succession documents from and into all major languages:

English French Spanish German Arabic Romanian Russian Portuguese Chinese Polish Bulgarian Turkish Japanese Greek Dutch Hungarian Czech

Related services

Sworn translations Hague Apostille Sworn translation costs eIDAS digital signature Birth certificate translation Single status certificate

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Send us your succession documents and receive your quote within a few hours.

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Frequently asked questions about succession document translation

How much does a sworn translation of succession documents cost?
The cost of a sworn translation of succession documents starts from €76 and varies depending on the type of document, the language and the number of pages. The price includes translation, legal review, sworn oath at the Tribunal and revenue stamps (marche da bollo). Shipping within Italy is free. Send us a scan of your documents for an exact quote.
How long does it take?
Timelines depend on the complexity and length of the document. For a short will (1–3 pages), expect 24–48 hours. For a standard succession declaration or grant of probate (5–10 pages), allow 3–5 working days. For complex estate files with multiple attachments, timelines are agreed on a case-by-case basis. Rush service is available with a surcharge.
A relative has died leaving property in Italy. I have the UK grant of probate. What do I do?
The typical process is: (1) obtain the Apostille on the grant of probate and the original will from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO); (2) have both documents sworn-translated into Italian — we handle this; (3) present the apostilled and translated documents to an Italian notary, who will publish the foreign will in Italy; (4) the notary will then handle the transfer of assets (property, bank accounts) to the heirs. Our firm translates all the required documents and our lawyers can assist you with the entire Italian succession procedure, including coordination with the Italian notary.
What is the difference between probate and the Italian succession declaration?
They serve different functions. In common law systems (UK, US, Australia), probate is a court-supervised process that validates the will and authorises an executor to administer the estate — collect assets, pay debts, distribute to beneficiaries. In Italy, there is no probate: heirs acquire ownership automatically at the moment of death. The dichiarazione di successione is a tax filing submitted to the Revenue Agency listing the heirs and the estate’s assets. The transfer of individual assets (property, accounts) is then handled by a notary. Understanding this distinction is crucial for a correct translation, and it’s why specialist legal knowledge matters.
What is the European Certificate of Succession?
The European Certificate of Succession (ECS), established by EU Regulation 650/2012, is a document that proves the status of heir, legatee, executor or estate administrator across all EU Member States without the need for separate recognition procedures. It is issued by the competent authority of the Member State whose law governs the succession. Although it is designed to circulate freely within the EU, in practice national authorities (land registries, banks) may still require its translation into the local language. Note: the UK is no longer part of this framework since Brexit, so UK probate documents require the traditional Apostille + sworn translation route.
Does the Italian succession declaration have a filing deadline?
Yes. The Italian succession declaration (dichiarazione di successione) must be filed with the Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) within 12 months of the date of death. Late filing incurs penalties and interest. If you need a translation to complete the succession process, we recommend contacting us as early as possible to meet the deadline.
Can I order the translation online from the UK / US / abroad?
Yes. The entire service is 100% online. Send your documents by email, WhatsApp or through our website form. We handle the translation, legal review and sworn oath at the Tribunal of Rome. You receive the certified documents at your door — anywhere in Italy or internationally.
Do you also provide legal advice on cross-border successions?
Yes. Our associated firm includes lawyers specialising in private international law and cross-border succession matters. Beyond the sworn translation, we can assist with identifying the applicable law, the validity of foreign wills in Italy, recognition of foreign court orders, forced heirship rules (quota di riserva), Italian property transfer and tax obligations, and coordination with notaries and professionals abroad. Get in touch for a consultation.

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