In 30 seconds
- If the deceased had assets abroad, they must be searched for and documented just like those in Italy.
- Each country has its own rules: do not take for granted that the Italian ones apply.
- For each foreign asset, ask a professional from that country for confirmation and, for Italy, a notary or a lawyer.
What to look for
Accounts in foreign banks, houses, land, company shares, insurance policies, investments, safe deposit boxes. Often the clues are in the papers at home: account statements, letters from foreign banks, contracts, tax returns, e-mails.
First steps
A list with the documents
For each asset, note where it is located, who manages it and which documents you have. Ask the foreign bank or body which documents the heirs need: they vary from country to country.
Translations and legalisations
Some foreign documents must be translated or certified to be used in Italy, and vice versa. The rules change: seek information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy or the Consulate of the country concerned, or ask the notary.
Taxes and returns
Assets abroad may have tax effects in Italy and in the country where they are located. Consult the website of the Italian Revenue Agency and ask a professional before making any declarations.
Whom to ask
For Italy: a notary or a lawyer. For the foreign country: a local professional, or the Embassy or the Consulate for basic information. Do not trust figures and terms heard from others.
A frequent case
A problem that often occurs. Names, places and details do not refer to real people or files: this is not a real case of the firm.
A gentleman from San Giorgio a Cremano dies leaving two daughters. Among his papers there are letters from a foreign bank and the contract for an apartment abroad. The daughters make a list, ask the bank which documents are needed and look for a local professional before taking any step.
Frequently asked questions
Are assets abroad part of the inheritance?
As a rule yes, but the rules on how they are transferred depend on the country. Ask for confirmation.
Do I have to go abroad myself?
Not always. Often it is possible to proceed remotely, with documents and local professionals.
Do you want to understand your case?
The firm sees clients by appointment in Naples (Piazza Giovanni Bovio 22 and Via Monte di Dio 14), in Rome and in Bari, and remotely throughout Italy.
Book a consultation · Message us on WhatsApp · Call us at 347 5264190
Author: Attorney Renato Giuseppe Fiorentino, Naples Bar. Informational text, not a substitute for an opinion on your case. For up-to-date details, consult the official websites indicated in the text.
Main page on the subject: Inheritance and gifts in Naples: all the guides and how to contact the firm →
The route that usually works best
The possible routes
- Search for and document the assets abroad, like those in Italy.
- Ask the foreign bank or body which documents the heirs need.
- Turn to a professional from the country where the asset is located and, for Italy, to a notary or a lawyer.
Which usually works best and why
It depends on the case. The article says that each country has its own rules and that documents vary from country to country. For this reason, it usually works best to start from a list of the assets with their documents and then ask a local professional for confirmation before taking any step.
What to do right away
- Look in the papers at home for account statements, letters from foreign banks and contracts.
- For each asset, note where it is located, who manages it and which documents you have.
- Check which documents must be translated or certified.
Each situation must be assessed on the documents of the specific case: this indication is not a promise of outcome.
How Attorney Fiorentino can assist you
- Make a single list of the assets abroad, with location, manager and available documents.
- Do not make tax declarations before asking a professional, because assets abroad may have effects in Italy and in the country where they are located.
- Keep translations and certifications of foreign documents together with the originals.
The firm also offers remote consultations, with documents sent online, and gives you a written quote before the engagement. The offices in Naples, Rome and Bari see clients by appointment.
Translated from the Italian original; updated on October 18, 2026.
(Read also): Legal guides from Studio Legale Fiorentino · Division of an estate with a missing heir or one living abroad: how to proceed · Foreign trust to avoid paying debts? Here is why the creditor can take action in Italy
Do you have a similar issue?
Every situation depends on the documents of the specific case. You can contact the firm from anywhere, remotely.