Change of address for an estate

Why can't you make an ordinary change of address?

A person who has died is removed from the population register (19 § folkbokföringslagen (the Swedish Population Registration Act)), so the population registration address cannot be changed. Flyttanmälan and the form for a special postal address do not work for estates. Most authorities and companies send post to the population registration address. Skatteverket informs other authorities and many companies of the death, often automatically, but not of the estate's new address.

Source: Skatteverket: Report a new address for an estate, Folkbokföringslag (1991:481) (riksdagen.se).

Who may change the address for the estate?

The heirs represent the estate together (18 kap. 1 § ärvdabalken (the Swedish Inheritance Code)). The first notification to Skatteverket can be made by an heir, an estate administrator, the executor of the estate inventory, the funeral home or anyone else who is authorised to represent the estate. Later changes require the signature of all parties, or one party with a power of attorney from the others. The forwarding is ordered by the person representing the estate, and that person becomes responsible for payment.

Source: Ärvdabalk (1958:637), 18 and 20 kap. (riksdagen.se), Skatteverket: Report a new address for an estate, Svensk Adressändring: Mail forwarding for an estate.

In what order do you do it?

Nine steps. Take them in this order, and the post will arrive at the right address while the estate inventory is under way.

1. 1. Order a death certificate with a family investigation
2. 2. Decide who handles the estate and write a power of attorney
3. 3. Report the estate's new address to Skatteverket
4. 4. Order mail forwarding for the estate's post
5. 5. Contact the bank
6. 6. The authorities: most of it happens automatically
7. 7. Insurance, electricity, broadband and subscriptions
8. 8. The landlord or the tenant-owners' association
9. 9. Estate inventory or estate notification, then change of address at the bank

1. 1

   Step 1: Order a death certificate with a family investigation

   When: The first few days. The certificate can be issued once Skatteverket has registered the death, normally a day or so after the medical certificate of death has arrived.

   • Call Skatteupplysningen on 0771-567 567 and say you want to order a death certificate, or use the form Ta del av allmänna handlingar eller uppgifter.
   • Or ask the funeral director to print the certificate. Funeral directors, banks and insurance companies can obtain it themselves.
   • Make sure you have one certificate for every bank and insurance company that wants an original.

   What you need

   • The deceased's name and personal identity number.

   Common mistakes

   • Waiting for the estate inventory before you contact the bank. The certificate is enough for many matters before the estate inventory.
   • Assuming the certificate shows siblings. It shows the spouse and children.

   Source: Skatteverket: Death certificate with family investigation, Skatteverket: Access public documents or information, Skatteverket: The death is registered.

2. 2

   Step 2: Decide who handles the estate and write a power of attorney

   When: At the same time as step 1, before you contact banks and companies.

   • Find out who the estate's beneficiaries are: the surviving spouse or cohabiting partner, heirs and universal legatees. The family investigation shows the spouse and children.
   • Check whether a will appoints an executor. If so, the executor handles the estate.
   • Have the other beneficiaries sign a power of attorney for the person who will handle the post and the contacts.

   What you need

   • The death certificate.
   • Name, personal identity number and telephone number for all beneficiaries.
   • Two witnesses who are not beneficiaries.

   Common mistakes

   • A beneficiary acting alone without a power of attorney from the others.
   • Beneficiaries witnessing each other's signatures. SEB does not accept that.
   • Using a power of attorney that the deceased gave before the death.

   The template: Power of attorney for estate beneficiaries

   § 18 kap. 1 § ärvdabalk (1958:637), checked 3 October 2026

   § 18 kap. 2 § ärvdabalk (1958:637), checked 3 October 2026

   Source: Efterlevandeguiden: Handling an estate, Ärvdabalk (1958:637), 18 and 20 kap. (riksdagen.se).

3. 3

   Step 3: Report the estate's new address to Skatteverket

   When: Skatteverket sends the form about a week after the death. Do it straight away, so that tax return forms and letters about the estate inventory arrive at the right address.

   • Fill in form SKV 8403: the estate's name and personal identity number, the address at the time of death, the new postal address with a c/o name, and the telephone number and relationship of the person at the new address.
   • Sign and send it to Skatteverket, 205 30 Malmö. The notification must be in writing and signed.

   What you need

   • Form SKV 8403.
   • The c/o address.

   Common mistakes

   • Assuming the address applies to all senders. It only applies to letters from Skatteverket, and Skatteverket does not pass it on.
   • Using flyttanmälan (notification of change of address) or the form for a special postal address. They do not work for estates.
   • Changing the address again later without the signature of all beneficiaries or a power of attorney.

   § 19 § folkbokföringslag (1991:481), checked 3 October 2026

   Source: Skatteverket: Report a new address for an estate, Skatteverket: Notification of new address for an estate (SKV 8403).

4. 4

   Step 4: Order mail forwarding for the estate's post

   When: As soon as possible after step 3. Svensk Adressändring writes that winding up an estate takes 8 to 15 months.

   • Order Mail forwarding for an estate from Svensk Adressändring: start date, the deceased's name and personal identity number, previous address, the estate's new address and your details.
   • Pay by invoice: 1,198 kronor for 12 months plus a 49 kronor invoice fee. The person who orders becomes liable for payment.
   • If someone is going to collect parcels and registered letters at the postal agent: ask the funeral director for a custody certificate, which is valid for four months. A spouse or registered partner shows the death certificate.

   What you need

   • The deceased's personal identity number and address.
   • The estate's new address.
   • Right to represent the estate of a deceased person.

   Common mistakes

   • Only doing step 3. Most companies and authorities send post to the population registration address.
   • Assuming that mail forwarding changes the address at the bank. Handelsbanken states explicitly that it does not.

   Source: Svensk Adressändring: Mail forwarding for an estate, Efterlevandeguiden: Handling an estate.

5. 5

   Step 5: Contact the bank

   When: After steps 1 and 2. The banks are told of the death by Skatteverket and send balance statements or capital and interest statements to the estate's address, within about two weeks according to Swedbank and Länsförsäkringar.

   • Send or show the death certificate.
   • Ask for a statement as at the date of death if it has not arrived. You need it for the estate inventory.
   • Let the bank pay current bills. SEB and Handelsbanken do this free of charge for up to twelve months.
   • Stop direct debits with the payees.
   • Ask for a change of address in the bank's system once the estate inventory is registered.

   What you need

   • Death certificate with a family investigation.
   • Powers of attorney, on the bank's own form if the bank requires it.
   • ID when you visit a branch.
   • Later: the registered estate inventory.

   Common mistakes

   • Expecting the bank to change the address before the estate inventory. Swedbank and Handelsbanken do not.
   • Relying on mail forwarding for the bank's post. It does not change the address in the bank's records.

   The template: Letter to the bank about the death and the estate's contact address

   § 18 kap. 1 § ärvdabalk (1958:637), checked 3 October 2026

   Source: Swedbank: Death and estate, Handelsbanken: Balance and interest statements, SEB: What happens to the deceased's banking services, Nordea: Send in a death certificate, Danske Bank: Estate, Länsförsäkringar: Estate.

6. 6

   Step 6: The authorities: most of it happens automatically

   When: Check during the first few weeks.

   • Försäkringskassan (the Swedish Social Insurance Agency): most benefits end automatically. Child benefit and parental days are transferred to the other parent.
   • Pensionsmyndigheten (the Swedish Pensions Agency) receives the information from Skatteverket and itself investigates whether a surviving relative is entitled to benefits.
   • Housing allowance or housing supplement for the surviving person must be applied for again.
   • Check that Skatteverket has the right address for the estate (step 3).

   Common mistakes

   • Sending a change of address to every authority. Skatteverket's notification of the death reaches other authorities, often automatically.

   Source: Försäkringskassan: For you who have lost a loved one, Pensionsmyndigheten: Financial support when a relative dies, Efterlevandeguiden: Checklist after a death.

7. 7

   Step 7: Insurance, electricity, broadband and subscriptions

   When: During the first few weeks. Home insurance and electricity are cancelled once the home has been emptied.

   • Go through post, bank statements and insurance letters to find the contracts.
   • Write to each company and attach the death certificate and the power of attorney.
   • Cancel or transfer electricity, broadband, TV, telephone and waste collection.

   What you need

   • A copy of the death certificate.
   • The power of attorney if there are several of you.
   • Later: a copy of the registered estate inventory.

   Common mistakes

   • Cancelling the home insurance while the belongings are still there.
   • Letting direct debits keep running.

   The templates: Letter to insurance companies about a death, Cancellation or transfer of electricity, broadband and subscriptions for an estate

   § 18 kap. 3 § ärvdabalk (1958:637), checked 3 October 2026

   Source: Skatteverket: Good to know when a relative dies, Länsförsäkringar: The estate's insurance.

8. 8

   Step 8: The landlord or the tenant-owners' association

   When: Rental apartment: give notice within one month of the death to get the shorter notice period. Tenant-owned apartment: no rush under the law.

   • Rental apartment: send the estate's notice in writing within one month of the death. The contract ends at the end of the month that falls at the earliest one month after the notice.
   • If a spouse or cohabiting partner is going to stay: do not give notice (12 kap. 33 and 34 §§ jordabalken (the Swedish Land Code)).
   • Tenant-owned apartment: tell the association about the death and the contact address. The estate may keep the tenant-owned apartment for three years before the association may demand an answer.

   What you need

   • The death certificate.
   • The power of attorney or the signatures of all beneficiaries.
   • Apartment number and contract number.

   Common mistakes

   • Waiting to give notice until after the estate inventory. Then a three-month notice period applies.
   • Only one beneficiary signing without a power of attorney.
   • Not allowing for emptying and move-out cleaning before the day the contract ends.

   The apartment must be emptied and given a move-out cleaning before the keys are handed over. What move-out cleaning costs is in the step about move-out cleaning, and how the landlord carries out the inspection is in the guide to move-out inspection.

   The templates: The estate's notice of termination of a rental apartment, Notice to the tenant-owners' association about a death

   § 12 kap. 5 § second paragraph jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026

   § 12 kap. 8 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026

   § 12 kap. 33 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026

   § 12 kap. 34 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026

   § 6 kap. 1 a § bostadsrättslag (1991:614), checked 3 October 2026

   § 18 kap. 2 § ärvdabalk (1958:637), checked 3 October 2026

   Source: Jordabalken, 12 kap. (riksdagen.se), Bostadsrättslag (1991:614), 7 kap. (riksdagen.se).

9. 9

   Step 9: Estate inventory or estate notification, then change of address at the bank

   When: The estate inventory is carried out no later than three months after the death and submitted within a month after that. Apply for an extension within three months. The estate notification should be made within two months.

   • If the assets only cover the funeral: contact the social services office in your home municipality about an estate notification.
   • Otherwise: do the estate inventory on form SKV 4600, with the brochure SKV 461 as support, or with help. Appoint two persons to carry out the inventory and summon all beneficiaries.
   • Send the original to Skatteverket, Bouppteckningssektionen, 871 87 Härnösand.
   • Once the estate inventory is registered: show it to the bank and ask for a change of address. Change the estate's address with Skatteverket again if needed.

   What you need

   • Balance and interest statements from the banks.
   • Will and prenuptial agreement, if there are any.
   • Power of attorney or proof of summons for anyone who cannot attend.

   Common mistakes

   • Missing the three-month limit without applying for an extension.
   • Letting an heir carry out the inventory.
   • Not allowing for Skatteverket's queue time, about 11 weeks on 3 October 2026, before the estate inventory is registered and the bank can change the address.

   § 20 kap. 1 § ärvdabalk (1958:637), checked 3 October 2026

   § 20 kap. 2 § ärvdabalk (1958:637), checked 3 October 2026

   § 20 kap. 8 § ärvdabalk (1958:637), checked 3 October 2026

   § 20 kap. 8 a § ärvdabalk (1958:637), checked 3 October 2026

   § 20 kap. 9 § ärvdabalk (1958:637), checked 3 October 2026

   Source: Skatteverket: Estate inventory, Skatteverket: Estate inventory (SKV 4600), Skatteverket: Estate notification (SKV 4601), Skatteverket: Brochure Estate inventory (SKV 461).

What does the bank require?

Before the estate inventory, the death certificate is enough for some matters, but Swedbank and Handelsbanken only change the address in their system once the estate inventory is registered. Mail forwarding does not change the address at the bank. This is what the banks say themselves, retrieved 3 October 2026. The banks say different things about powers of attorney given by the deceased, so ask your bank.

How does the estate terminate a rental apartment?

In writing (12 kap. 8 § jordabalken). If the estate gives notice within one month of the death, the contract ends at the end of the month that falls at the earliest one month after the notice. If the notice is given later, three months apply (12 kap. 5 § second paragraph). An example: a death on 10 October 2026 and notice on 20 October means the contract ends on 30 November at the earliest. Notice on 12 November gives three months, and the contract ends on 28 February 2027 at the earliest.

If spouses or cohabiting partners rented the apartment together, the estate and the surviving partner give notice jointly. If the spouse or partner is going to stay, you do not give notice. If the tenancy has been allotted to the spouse or partner through a division of property or distribution of the estate, they may take the estate's place (12 kap. 33 §), and the estate can transfer the tenancy to a close relative who lived there permanently, with the permission of Hyresnämnden (12 kap. 34 §). The notice period for a rental apartment in general is in the guide to notice period for an apartment.

Source: Jordabalken, 12 kap. (riksdagen.se).

What applies to a tenant-owned apartment?

The estate may keep the tenant-owned apartment without being a member of the association. Only three years after the death may the association ask the estate to show, within six months, that the tenant-owned apartment has been included in a division of property or distribution of the estate or has been sold (6 kap. 1 a § bostadsrättslagen (the Swedish Housing Cooperatives Act)). The estate pays the monthly fee in the meantime.

Source: Bostadsrättslag (1991:614), 7 kap. (riksdagen.se).

When must the estate inventory be done?

The estate inventory should be conducted no later than three months after the death (20 kap. 1 § ärvdabalken) and submitted to Skatteverket within one month after the conduct (20 kap. 8 §). It is what Skatteverket calls within four months. If you need more time, you apply for a deferment within the three months. If the assets only cover the funeral, the social services can make an estate notification instead, preferably within two months (20 kap. 8 a §). The registered estate inventory is the estate's identification, and only with it do several banks change the address. How the conduct is carried out, with the invitation, the conduct persons and what is sent in, is described under estate inventory in the guide to estate of a deceased person.

Source: Ärvdabalk (1958:637), 18 and 20 kap. (riksdagen.se), Skatteverket: Estate inventory.

Templates for the estate

The power of attorney and the letters to the bank, the insurance company, the electricity and broadband companies, the landlord and the association. There is no template for mail forwarding, because Svensk Adressändring only accepts the order on the web. All the templates on the site are collected under templates for the move.

The law behind it

The sections summarised, with a link to the legal text on riksdagen.se.