In the first six months of this year, 26,112 Belgians renounced an inheritance free of charge at a notary, according to figures released on Friday by the Federation of Notaries.
Previously, individuals had to turn to a court to renounce an inheritance, but it is now possible to do so through a notary. “The general public is increasingly aware that there is an option to renounce an inheritance for free through a notary in Belgium,” observed Sylvain Bavier, notary and spokesperson for notaire.be.
In the first half of 2024, more than 30,000 Belgians had renounced an inheritance for free at a notary, with 58,459 doing so throughout last year. The number has been increasing for several years.
When a person dies, heirs have three options: accept the inheritance, renounce it entirely, or accept it under benefit of inventory, Fednot explains. The latter is recommended if the potential heir is uncertain about the exact contents of the inheritance. In this case, the notary will draw up an inventory of the assets and liabilities of the inheritance. If the heir is certain that the liabilities exceed the assets, they may choose to renounce the inheritance.
Renouncing an inheritance requires a declaration in front of a notary, in an official document. The renunciation can be made free of charge if the net assets of the inheritance (the amount received by the heir after deducting all debts) do not exceed €6,093.20.
Once the heir has renounced the inheritance, creditors of the deceased can no longer approach them for the payment of debts.
