What we take care of
When a relative passes away leaving assets in Italy — a house, land, bank accounts, investments — the Italian succession has its own rules, deadlines and taxes, and everything happens in Italian. Studio Legale Doraci handles the entire procedure on your behalf, from the first document to the final transfer, while you stay in the United States.
Succession declaration & taxes
The dichiarazione di successione must be filed with the Italian Revenue Agency within 12 months of death. We prepare it, file it and settle the inheritance taxes.
Real estate in Italy
Cadastral transfer of houses and land into the heirs’ names, land-registry checks, and — if you wish — the sale of the property with the net proceeds wired to your U.S. account.
Bank accounts & investments
Italian banks freeze the deceased’s accounts until the succession is filed. We obtain the release and the transfer of the balances to the heirs.
Wills and forced heirship
Successions with or without a will. U.S. wills can be recognized in Italy, but Italian forced heirship rules may protect close relatives: we check before any decision.
Disputes between heirs
Division of the estate, contested wills, claims by omitted heirs: negotiation, mediation and, when necessary, Italian court proceedings.
Documents, tax code, apostilles
Italian tax code (codice fiscale) for each heir, civil-status certificates, apostilles and sworn translations: we obtain everything for you.
How it works from the United States
- Free assessment by video call. We review the situation and the documents you have, and tell you plainly what the estate involves — scheduled on U.S. time zones.
- Power of attorney, without leaving home. You sign before a U.S. notary with an apostille (Hague Convention), or at an Italian Consulate. From that moment we act for you in Italy.
- We collect every document in Italy. Civil-status records, land-registry and cadastral searches, bank correspondence: you don’t chase anything.
- Succession declaration and taxes. Filed within the 12-month deadline, with the taxes calculated and paid correctly.
- Transfer — and, if you wish, sale. The assets are registered in your name; if you prefer to sell, we manage the sale and wire the net proceeds to the United States.
Italian inheritance tax: usually lower than you fear
Italian inheritance tax (imposta di successione) depends on the relationship between the deceased and each heir, with generous tax-free allowances:
| Heir | Rate |
|---|---|
| Spouse, children, parents (direct line) | 4% — only above €1,000,000 per heir |
| Brothers and sisters | 6% — only above €100,000 per heir |
| Other relatives up to the 4th degree | 6%, no allowance |
| All other beneficiaries | 8%, no allowance |
Source: Italian Legislative Decree no. 346/1990, as amended.
Real estate also pays fixed transfer taxes (2% + 1%) calculated on the cadastral value, which is normally far below market value. In practice, many family successions pay little or no inheritance tax at all thanks to the allowances — we give you the exact figures before you commit to anything.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to travel to Italy?
No. A power of attorney signed in the U.S. before a notary with an apostille — or at an Italian Consulate — lets us complete the entire succession, including the sale of property, while you stay home. Video calls cover everything else.
I don’t speak Italian. Is that a problem?
No. English is a working language of the firm: correspondence, calls and explanations are in English, and every Italian document you need to understand is summarized or translated for you.
Is my relative’s U.S. will valid in Italy?
Generally yes: Italy recognizes foreign wills that are formally valid where they were made. But Italian forced-heirship rules can protect the spouse and children for assets located in Italy, whatever the will says — this must be checked before taking any step in the U.S. probate.
Which law governs the succession?
Under the EU Succession Regulation (no. 650/2012), applied by Italian authorities, the general rule is the law of the deceased’s habitual residence, but a will can validly choose the law of citizenship, and real estate in Italy raises specific questions. It is the first thing we analyze — it changes who inherits what.
How long does it take?
A straightforward succession — declaration, taxes, cadastral transfer — is normally completed in a few months once the documents are gathered; the release of bank accounts follows the filing. Disputes or sales take longer, and we tell you the realistic timeline at the outset.
How much does it cost?
The first assessment is free and without obligation. Before any engagement you receive a written fee quote, as Italian law requires; out-of-pocket expenses (taxes, certificates, translations) are itemized separately.