How to Register Inherited Property in Croatia – What Documents Expats Need and How to Translate Them

For many Croatians living abroad, inheriting property from family members back home can be both an emotional and a complex administrative process. Whether it’s a stone house in Dalmatia, agricultural land inland, or an apartment in Zagreb, the process of registering inherited property in Croatia requires official documentation – and in many cases, certified translations.

In this article, we outline the required documents, the steps involved, and the crucial role certified translations play in ensuring your inheritance is recognized by Croatian courts, land registries, and notaries.

Why Inheritance Procedures in Croatia Require Translations

If you live outside Croatia and are involved in an inheritance case, you may be asked to submit:

• a power of attorney signed abroad,
• personal identification documents,
• or even foreign inheritance rulings.

Croatian institutions will require these documents in Croatian, and the translations must be done by a court-certified translator (sudski tumač). Incorrect, informal, or machine-translated documents are not accepted in court proceedings or land registry offices.

Key Documents You May Need to Translate

1. Power of attorney (if you’re not attending hearings in person)
2. Inheritance rulings (if issued abroad or for translation into English for dual use)
3. Birth and death certificates (for proving lineage and inheritance rights)
4. Certificate of Croatian citizenship or proof of eligibility for inheritance
5. ID or passport (certified translation may be required if not in Latin script)
6. Land registry extract (vlasnički list) or decision on ownership (rješenje o nasljeđivanju)

For Croatians Abroad: Common Scenarios

If you live in countries like Australia, Canada, Ireland, Germany, or the U.S., you might:

• Be named in a Croatian inheritance case while living abroad
• Need to authorize someone via power of attorney to represent you in Croatia
• Need to translate Croatian court documents for legal use in your country
• Be required to submit foreign-issued documents to Croatian courts

All of these scenarios involve document translation that must be court-certified. For example, if you send a power of attorney from Ireland or Canada, it must be translated into Croatian and possibly accompanied by an apostille stamp.

The Role of a Sworn Translator (Sudski Tumač)

A court-certified translator in Croatia is authorized to translate legal documents with an official stamp and signature. These translations are accepted by courts, notaries, ministries, and other state bodies.

At our office in Rijeka, we specialize in helping Croatians abroad with quick and accurate certified translations of:

• property-related documents
• inheritance rulings
• personal certificates and declarations

We also assist in clarifying whether an apostille or further legalization is needed, depending on your country of residence.

How the Translation Process Works

You send us scanned copies or clear photos of your documents. We assess them, provide a quote and timeline, and upon confirmation, prepare your certified translations. Most translations can be completed within 1–2 business days, and digital delivery is available worldwide.

Need Help With Inherited Property Documents in Croatia?

We provide professional, legally valid, certified translations tailored for:

• diaspora Croatians inheriting property
• Croatian notaries and lawyers handling international cases
• clients needing urgent or digital delivery

Contact us today to ensure your inheritance paperwork is complete, accurate, and ready for official use in Croatia or abroad.