A declaration of inheritance is necessary in several situations, including when:
- Absence of a will — the deceased person left no will and it is necessary to officially establish who their legal heirs are;
- Incomplete or inapplicable will — the will does not allow for the identification of all heirs or certain provisions can no longer be executed;
- Requirement of a financial institution — a bank requires formal proof of heirship to unlock accounts or authorize transactions;
- Request from a public body or insurer — a government authority or insurance company requires that the inheritance devolution be established by an official document.
The declaration can also be used to appoint a liquidator , but only when a declaration of inheritance is required . In other situations, the appointment of the liquidator will be made by means of a separate instrument of appointment of liquidator .