Inheritance Procedures When a Japanese Parent Dies and the Japanese Heir Lives in Singapore
This article explains inheritance procedures when the decedent was Japanese and lived in Japan, while the heir retains Japanese nationality and lives in Singapore. Expatriates who have kept their resident registration can obtain an inkan certificate; those who have removed it use a signature certificate from the Embassy of Japan in Singapore.
Inheritance Procedures When a Japanese Parent Dies and the Japanese Heir Lives in Singapore
A Japanese parent who lived in Japan has died, and I, the heir, live in Singapore while retaining Japanese nationality. Deposits and real estate remain in Japan—the circumstances vary, including expatriate assignments, local employment, and relocation.
In this combination, where the decedent is Japanese, the applicable law is definitively Japanese law. Determining the heirs is also completed through the Japanese family registry. The remaining issue is whether an inkan registration certificate can be prepared.
Key Points of This Article
- If the decedent was Japanese, the governing law is Japanese law. The heir’s presence in Singapore does not affect the scope of heirs or inheritance shares.
- Since the decedent’s family registry exists, determining the heirs proceeds normally. A legal inheritance information chart can also be used.
- If you have not submitted a moving-out notification, you can obtain an inkan certificate. Many people on multi-year expatriate assignments retain their resident records, and in that case procedures can proceed in the same way as for residents in Japan.
- If you have removed your resident registration, obtain a signature certificate and certificate of residence at the Embassy of Japan in Singapore.
- Notarization or an apostille is not required.
1. The Governing Law Is Japanese Law
Article 36 of Japan’s Act on General Rules for Application of Laws provides that succession is governed by the decedent’s national law. If the decedent is a Japanese national, Japanese law applies.
Who the heirs are, the amount of each statutory inheritance share, and whether there is a reserved portion are all determined under Japan’s Civil Code. The heir’s residence in Singapore does not change the determination.
2. Resident Registration Is the First Point of Division
Inkan registration is a system for people with resident registration in a Japanese municipality. If you have not submitted a moving-out notification, both your resident record and inkan registration remain. In that case, you can authorize family in Japan to obtain an inkan certificate and proceed in the same way as a resident of Japan.
Singapore has many assignments lasting several years, and quite a few people relocate while keeping their resident records. If you are unsure of your status, family in Japan can confirm it at the municipal office.
The following explanation is for people who have removed their resident records.
3. Two Certificates Obtained at the Embassy of Japan in Singapore
| Certificate | What it replaces |
|---|---|
| Signature certificate (sign certificate) | Registered seal and inkan registration certificate |
| Certificate of residence | Resident record (proof of current address) |
The application requires a passport, the document to be signed, and materials proving the current address (such as a lease agreement or utility bill).
Two Forms of Signature Certificate
- Bound-together form: The certificate is bound together with a document such as an estate division agreement, certifying that the document was signed
- Standalone form: Separated from the document, certifying the signature itself
Which one is required depends on the recipient. The standalone form can be obtained without waiting for the estate division agreement to be completed.
Japanese nationals do not need notarization by a Singapore Notary Public or an apostille from the Singapore Academy of Law.
4. Work on the Japanese Side Can Be Completed in Japan
When the decedent is Japanese, the work that can be advanced in Japan is as follows.
- Collecting family registry records from the decedent’s birth through death
- Preparing an inheritance relationship chart and legal inheritance information chart
- Investigating assets (inquiries to financial institutions and confirmation of real estate)
- Preparing an estate division agreement
- Preparing inheritance forms for each financial institution
Using a legal inheritance information chart, you can have as many copies of the chart issued as needed. They can be submitted to multiple financial institutions simultaneously.
5. How You Receive the Assets
Refunds of Japanese deposits are, in principle, transferred to an account in Japan. The steps for receiving them differ depending on whether you maintain a Japanese account. An account with no activity for a long period may be treated as dormant deposits.
If you inherit Japanese real estate, management, payment of fixed asset tax, and a future sale remain as matters to handle.
6. Expected Timeframe
| Procedure | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Renunciation of inheritance; limited acceptance | 3 months from learning that the inheritance commenced |
| Filing and payment of inheritance tax | 10 months from the day after learning of the death |
| Registration of inheritance of real estate | 3 years from learning of the acquisition (mandatory) |
The overall guideline is 4–6 months.
| Stage | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Collecting family registry records and determining heirs | 1–2 months |
| Investigating assets | Approximately 1 month (can proceed in parallel) |
| Preparing and agreeing on the estate division agreement | Several weeks |
| Obtaining the signature certificate and international mailing | 3 weeks–1 month |
| Submission to and refunds from each financial institution | 2 weeks–1 month per institution |
If an inkan certificate can be obtained, the signature-certificate stage is eliminated.
Services of Our Office
Gyoseishoshi Arch Office has been handling procedures for people with international ties for more than 15 years, based in Osaka. We handle document exchanges in Japanese, Chinese, and English.
- Confirming resident-registration status
- Collecting family registry records in Japan and preparing an inheritance relationship chart and legal inheritance information chart
- Preparing an estate division agreement
- Supporting account cancellation and refund procedures with financial institutions
- Coordinating with judicial scriveners when inheritance registration is required and with tax accountants when an inheritance tax return is required
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I do not know whether I have removed my resident record. A. Determine this based on whether you submitted a moving-out notification. If unsure, family in Japan can confirm it at the municipal office.
Q. Can I complete the procedures without returning to Japan from Singapore? A. If the inheritance mainly involves deposits, there are many cases where it can be completed without returning to Japan.
Q. Is notarization required? A. It is not required when a Japanese national uses a signature certificate from the embassy.
Q. Do I have to pay Japanese inheritance tax even though I am in Singapore? A. Assets located in Japan are subject to Japanese inheritance tax regardless of the heir’s address or nationality. A tax accountant must confirm the scope of taxation.
Contact Us
For a consultation, please prepare the decedent’s date of death, the number and places of residence of the heirs, your resident-registration status, and the types of assets in Japan. We can respond in Japanese or Chinese.
Related Articles
- When a Japanese parent dies and the heir is a foreign national living in Singapore
- When a Singaporean parent living in Japan dies and the heir is in Singapore
- When a parent who lived in Singapore dies leaving assets in Japan
- What are signature certificates and sign certificates for overseas residents?
Please contact us before Japanese inheritance procedures stall
We confirm the heirs, assets, deadlines, and required documents, then organize the order of the Japanese-side procedures. Consultation is available in English and Chinese.
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