Claiming Inheritance in Russia from Abroad: Deadlines and Procedure Without Travelling

Short answer. An inheritance is accepted within 6 months of the death (Art. 1154 of the Russian Civil Code). From abroad, the application to a notary can be filed through an attorney, by post (the signature certified by a consul or a notary with an apostille) or through a Russian consulate. If the deadline is missed, it can be restored by a court for valid reasons (Art. 1155) or with the consent of the other heirs who have accepted.

The six-month acceptance period is the main trap for those living abroad: it slips away between negotiations with relatives and searching for documents. Here is the step-by-step procedure.

Where to file the application

An inheritance opens at the deceased person’s last place of residence (Art. 1115 of the Civil Code). If it is unknown — at the location of the real estate or the most valuable part of the estate.

You can find the right notary through the register of inheritance cases of the Federal Notarial Chamber at notariat.ru: a search by the deceased person’s name shows which notary opened the case. If no case has been opened yet, the application goes to the notary for the deceased’s last place of residence.

Ways to file from abroad

1. Through an attorney. The most reliable route. A representative under a power of attorney (notarised by a consul or with an apostille) files the application, requests and receives documents, pays the fee.
2. By post. The signature on the inheritance application must be notarised (Art. 1153 of the Civil Code). From abroad — by a Russian consul or a local notary with an apostille and a translation. Send it early: the filing date is the postmark on the envelope received by the notary — but only if the application arrives within the 6-month period.
3. Through a Russian consulate. Consulates accept inheritance applications and forward them to the notary in Russia.

Acceptance by conduct

An inheritance can also be accepted by actual conduct (para. 2 of Art. 1153 of the Civil Code): if you took possession of the property, paid utility bills and taxes, maintained the flat, took steps to protect the property. Living abroad makes this harder to prove, but correspondence, payments from a Russian bank card and insuring the flat work in your favour. The fact of acceptance is confirmed by the notary and, in a dispute, by the court.

If the deadline is missed

Two routes:

• Out of court. The written consent of all other heirs who have accepted the inheritance — the shares are then redistributed (Art. 1155 of the Civil Code).
• Through the court. A claim to restore the deadline must be filed within 6 months after the reasons for missing it ceased. Courts accept, for example, ignorance of the death in the absence of communication, long-term illness, being abroad with no possibility to travel. Laziness and “I did not know the law” are not accepted.

Also remember: the limitation period for claims by heirs against other heirs is 3 years (Art. 196 of the Civil Code), so it is better not to delay challenging shares.

What to do

1. Find the case in the FNP register of inheritance cases or determine the notary by the deceased’s place of residence.
2. Gather the basic package: the death certificate, documents confirming kinship, documents for the property (can be requested through a representative).
3. Issue a power of attorney (consul or notary with an apostille) and send it to the lawyer in Russia.
4. File the inheritance application before the 6 months expire — in person through a representative or by post with a certified signature.
5. Six months after the death, the representative receives the certificate of inheritance and, if necessary, registers the real estate through the MFC/Rosreestr.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute individual legal advice. A specific strategy depends on the composition of the estate and the family situation.