Weeks 1 to 2: secure and inform
- Secure the property: gather all the keys, redirect the post, check the heating and water – and in winter, remember frost protection.
- Notify the insurers: building insurance (in the canton of Fribourg, the cantonal building insurance ECAB/KGV), household contents and liability insurance. Check whether you need to report that the property is unoccupied.
- Inform the bank: mortgage interest and repayments continue to fall due.
- Keep an eye on running costs: electricity, heating, ancillary costs – for condominium ownership, inform the property management.
Weeks 2 to 6: clarify the inheritance
- Submit the will or inheritance contract: in the canton of Fribourg, testamentary dispositions are opened by the Justice of the Peace (Justice de paix).
- Apply for a certificate of inheritance: it is also issued by the Justice of the Peace and is required by the land registry and banks.
- Find out whether an executor has been appointed. If not, the heirs manage the property jointly.
- Take stock of the estate: list assets and debts – this is needed for tax purposes and for dividing the estate.
Important deadline: anyone wishing to disclaim (refuse) an inheritance – for example because the estate may be over-indebted – must declare this within three months (Art. 567 Swiss Civil Code). If in doubt, seek advice early.
Weeks 6 to 12: value and decide
- Determine the market value: it is the fair basis if one heir wants to take over the property and buy out the others – and for tax purposes.
- Compare the options: keeping it jointly and renting it out, a takeover by one heir, or a sale.
- Clarify tax questions: in the canton of Fribourg, spouses, registered partners and direct-line relatives pay no inheritance tax. Property gains tax is deferred on inheritance.
- If selling: plan for the cantonal building energy certificate (CECB/GEAK) – it is mandatory in the canton of Fribourg.
- Plan the clearance: set aside keepsakes before any service providers come in.
What can wait – and what cannot
The decision on whether to sell does not have to be made in the first few weeks. Many families need time to say goodbye – and that is as it should be. The running costs, securing the property and the deadline for disclaiming the inheritance, on the other hand, cannot be put off.
As a rule, all decisions about the property require the consent of all the heirs (Art. 602 Swiss Civil Code). A shared, neutral valuation helps to keep discussions objective.
This checklist is general information and does not replace legal or tax advice. For binding information, please contact your notary, the Justice of the Peace or your tax adviser.