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Certificate of heirs (veraset) in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria the heirs of a deceased person are shown not by a court but by a «удостоверение за наследници» (certificate of heirs) issued by the municipality of the deceased's last permanent address. It lists all living and deceased heirs defined by law, and all heirs may use it.

Official documents and institutions · Last reviewed: 2026-10-08

This is not legal or financial advice

This page explains the process in general terms and points to the official sources of the competent authorities. For decisions specific to your own situation, consult a lawyer, an accountant or the relevant institution. Rules and amounts change over time.

What the certificate is for

According to the eGov.bg page, you need it for matters tied to the inheritance rights you gain after a relative's death:

  • inheriting or transferring an inherited property;
  • pensions;
  • dividing properties;
  • the notarial deed of ownership issued on the basis of an investigation of circumstances («констативен нотариален акт»);
  • the inheritance tax return, which must be filed within 6 months of the opening of the inheritance.

Where and how to request it

The service is requested from the municipality of the deceased's last permanent address, and that municipality's mayor issues it. You can apply with a request at the counter of an administrative service centre or electronically through the secure electronic delivery system; for the electronic route you log in to your eGov.bg «My space» with a qualified electronic signature or a mobile electronic signature. The result is received in person, by post to your address (postage paid by you) or in your e-delivery profile.

Documents needed

  1. Request

    The standard form for a certificate of heirs.
  2. Fee receipt

    Proof of payment of the fee; the amount is not given on the page, so it is not given here.

As legal basis the page lists the Civil Registration Act (art. 24(1), art. 106(1) point 1), the Local Taxes and Fees Act (art. 110(1) point 1) and Ordinance No РД-02-20-6 of 24.04.2012 (arts. 9-12). The page does not separately explain how it works for people living elsewhere than the deceased's municipality, and it does not cover how a Turkish inheritance certificate is recognised in Bulgaria.

This page is not legal advice

The facts were read on 8 October 2026 from the unified municipal service page on eGov.bg (last updated 01.04.2025). The amount and rate of inheritance tax, the division of an estate and recognition of foreign court decisions are separate topics; talk to a notary, a lawyer and the municipality.

Frequently asked questions

Who issues the certificate of heirs?

The mayor of the municipality of the deceased's last permanent address.

Can all heirs use the certificate?

Yes. Per the page, all heirs may use it, and it lists all living and deceased heirs of the deceased.

Sources

The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.

  1. eGov.bg — услуга 2016: Издаване на удостоверение за наследници (общинска администрация) — https://egov.bg/wps/portal/egov/dostavchitsi+na+uslugi/obshtinski+administratsii/unificirani+uslugi/2016 · 2026-10-08

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