Giorgio
Lawyer · Genoa, Italy
- 148 cases handled
- 11+ years in practice
- Speaks: Russian, English
- Law, University of Genoa
-
5.00(5 reviews)
Dealing with a Death Abroad in Italy
Lawyers who help families abroad after a relative dies in Italy: registering the death and obtaining the Italian death certificate, working with the funeral director and the consulate on burial, cremation or repatriation, and the first steps for the estate.
About Dealing with a Death Abroad in Italy
Dealing with a death abroad is hard enough; when a relative dies in Italy, the family usually also faces a language it does not speak and offices it does not know. This page covers the death of a foreigner in Italy: registering the death, the Italian death certificate (atto di morte, certificato di morte), the repatriation of remains (rimpatrio della salma) or a burial or cremation in Italy, and the legal steps for the estate. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Managing the Death Abroad of a Loved one”.
The first steps in Italy
- A doctor certifies the death, and it is declared to the civil registry office (Ufficio di Stato Civile) of the municipality (comune) where it happened, which draws up the death record. In practice the funeral director (impresa di onoranze funebri) usually makes the declaration.
- If the death was sudden, violent or unexplained, the public prosecutor may order checks, and the body is released only with the prosecutor's clearance (nulla osta).
- For repatriation, the funeral director obtains the transport permits and, for most destinations, a mortuary passport (passaporto mortuario). Cremation in Italy and the transport of the ashes need their own permits.
- The consulate of the deceased's country is informed and can register the death at home; a multilingual extract of the death record helps with banks and offices abroad.
Points to watch
Decisions about the funeral come first and come fast. A travel or life insurance policy, or the consulate, may cover or guide part of it, and it is worth asking them before signing with a funeral director. Italian bank accounts are usually blocked once the bank learns of the death, and a lease, utilities or a car registered in Italy also have to be dealt with. Papers in Italian are best not signed until they are understood.
What a lawyer does
An English-speaking lawyer in Italy speaks to the registry, the funeral director, the hospital and, where needed, the prosecutor's office; obtains and legalises certificates; and, holding a power of attorney, deals with the home, the accounts and the documents. Copies of the death record are also covered by birth, marriage and death certificate applications. The estate itself (accepting it, the succession return, the property) is the subject of inheritance; for the deceased's accounts, see closing a bank account.
Questions and answers
Who registers a death in Italy?
A relative or, more often, the funeral director declares the death to the civil registry of the municipality where it happened.
How is an Italian death certificate obtained for use abroad?
From the civil registry of that municipality, as a certificate or as a multilingual extract; some countries also ask for an apostille or a translation.
How are remains repatriated from Italy?
Through a funeral director who prepares the body and obtains the transport permits and the mortuary passport, in contact with the consulate. The papers depend on the country of destination.
Can the family arrange everything from abroad?
Largely, yes. A funeral director and a lawyer with a power of attorney can handle most steps.
What happens to the deceased's property in Italy?
It passes under the rules of succession: the heirs accept it and file a succession return with the tax office.
1 lawyer who provides Dealing with a Death Abroad in Italy
Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.
Contact form · a chat with a lawyer
Talk to a lawyer about Dealing with a Death Abroad
1 registered lawyer provide this service in Italy. Describe your situation in a short chat — what happened, where, and how to reach you. Your enquiry is reviewed and passed to a lawyer who handles exactly this kind of case, with no obligation.
We are not just a place to list a profile: we work with every lawyer individually. Each one is registered with a bar association, and their experience, languages and client reviews are shown openly on their card.
Enquiries are answered by lawyers of AdvocateAbroad. This site provides legal information, not legal advice.
What our clients say about our service in Italy
-
A Google search led me to this service when I needed legal help in Lithuania. The lawyer offered a well-informed opinion along with a quote for the fees, the job was done efficiently and effectively, and the solution to my problem pleased me.
— David11 Mar 2024Dealing with a Death Abroad -
The lawyer was a very professional man and the family are extremely grateful for his help with our matter. The fee was good value for money, and he was very clear about what we needed throughout our case, in perfect English.
— Antony21 Dec 2022 -
The lawyer was very helpful. He kept me informed and his English was fantastic, so I could communicate with him effectively by phone and email, and he responded promptly. His fees were reasonable, and his approachability and professionalism were excellent. I was very satisfied.
— Sally-Ann30 Jun 2021 -
The lawyer understood the situation and dealt with it very well. We have not yet finished, but thanks to his patient and delicate handling of the matter we are near to bringing it to a satisfactory conclusion, and his English has been perfect throughout.
— Alex10 May 2021 -
He was very professional and gave me good advice and information about my situation and what can be done about it, and his English was perfect, so there was no trouble understanding. I truly appreciated the advice not only on the legal level but on a human level too.
— Nicole04 Dec 2025 -
She gave me guidance on a complex problem.
— John10 Jul 2023Personal Tax Consultation, Italy -
My husband's case is complicated. At last we have found an excellent Avvocato, and this service came to our rescue; we are very satisfied.
— Jacqueline31 Jan 2023Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice, Italy -
He responded quickly, understood my situation thoroughly and gave me the right solution, which I am very satisfied with.
— Rowena28 Sep 2022 -
The lawyer took the time to go through my options in detail and even suggested ones I did not know about. She is very knowledgeable in this field, and the help was excellent.
— Clinton20 Jul 2022Fiscal Advice, Italy -
The lawyer was always very thorough and came up with great solutions. She patiently went through everything and talked me through my options, which was a great help as I had just moved to a new country and did not speak Italian. The assistance was excellent.
— Kelly14 May 2022Tax Services for Freelancers & Self-Employed, Italy -
Overall I had a very satisfying experience. The lawyer was very helpful on the phone, on WhatsApp and, at the end, during a 3-hour meeting at the notary's office. He is very professional and did everything I could have wanted, and I am sure we received the best service possible.
— Bo07 Apr 2022 -
Fast to respond, quick to grasp my questions and helpful every time. The assistance was excellent.
— Axelle05 Oct 2021General Tax Services, Italy