Estate registration

When does the estate need a registration?

The person who buys or otherwise acquires a property must apply for a registration. Jordabalken makes an exception for estates: they only need to apply for a registration on property from the deceased when they transfer it. If the estate is going to sell or give away the house, a registration is required first. If an heir is going to keep it, the heir applies for a personal registration after the division of the estate.

If you are the sole heir, for example a single child or a surviving spouse, the estate usually ceases when the estate inventory has been registered. Then the estate cannot sell, and you should not apply for a registration for it. You apply for a personal registration and sell the property yourself.

Source: Jordabalken, 20 kap. (riksdagen.se), Lantmäteriet: Application for registration of title in the case of an estate. 20 kap. 1 § jordabalken.

What documents are needed?

• An application for registration of title for the estate, in the Lantmäteriet e-service or on the Application for registration of title form.
• A certified copy of the estate inventory. You copy the original and write on the copy that it matches the original, with your signature.
• The estate of a deceased person's Swedish organisation number, if the death occurred on 1 July 2026 or later.

The estate inventory is considered a document of acquisition when the estate applies for registration of title to the property of the deceased, so no purchase contract is needed for the estate's registration of title. A European Certificate of Succession is considered in the same way.

Source: Lantmäteriet: Application for registration of title in the case of an estate, Jordabalken, 20 kap. (riksdagen.se). 20 kap. 5 § jordabalken.

How to apply step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: See to it that the estate inventory is registered with Skatteverket (the Swedish Tax Agency) and that the property is included in it.

2. 2

   Step 2: If you are the sole heir: apply for personal ownership instead and then sell yourself.

3. 3

   Step 3: Get an organisation number for the estate of a deceased person if the death occurred on 1 July 2026 or later.

4. 4

   Step 4: Apply for registration of the estate of a deceased person in Lantmäteriet's e-service or on the Application for registration form, with a certified copy of the estate inventory.

   § 20 kap. 5 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 9 October 2026

5. 5

   Step 5: Write the purchase act with the mortgage as a seller, such as "First Name of the Mortgage", and let all mortgage owners sign on paper.

6. 6

   Step 6: Send the powers of attorney in original and a copy of the will, if it is stated in the estate inventory.

7. 7

   Step 7: The buyer applies for their lagfart within three months from the purchase.

   § 20 kap. 1 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 5 October 2026

   § 20 chap. 2 and 3 §§ jordabalken (1970:994), checked 5 October 2026

What applies when the estate sells?

The estate shall be stated as the seller or donor in the purchase or gift deed, for example "Forename Surname's estate". All heirs sign on behalf of the estate, but their spouses do not need to approve the transfer. If someone signs with a power of attorney, the power of attorney shall be sent in original. If there is a will in the estate inventory, a copy of it shall be attached to the buyer's application for registration of title.

The document shall be signed on paper. Lantmäteriet does not accept e-identification or other electronic signatures on the purchase deed. The buyer shall then apply for registration of title within three months from the date the purchase deed was drawn up, and it is often the bank or the estate agent who submits the application.

Source: Lantmäteriet: Application for registration of title in the case of an estate of a deceased person, Lantmäteriet: Registration of owner, registration of title, Jordabalken, 20 chap. (riksdagen.se). 20 chap. 2 § jordabalken.

What does the registration of title for an estate of a deceased person cost?

Lantmäteriet always charges a registration fee of 825 kronor, one for each deed of acquisition. If the case is put on hold, an additional registration fee is added. In the case of inheritance and division of estate, no stamp duty is paid. Lantmäteriet does not specify this for the registration of title for an estate of a deceased person, but the law on stamp duty lists purchases, exchanges, and similar transfers as taxable, and the estate's acquisition from the deceased is not one of them.

The buyer pays the usual stamp duty on their registration of title, 1.5 percent for a private person, calculated on the purchase price or the assessed value the year before, whichever is higher. The seller and buyer have joint payment responsibility for the stamp duty. How it is calculated can be found in the guide to registration of title and mortgages.

Source: Lantmäteriet: Stamp duty and fees, Law (1984:404) on stamp duty at registration authorities (riksdagen.se). 4, 8 and 9 §§ of the law on stamp duty at registration authorities.

How long does it take?

Lantmäteriet does not specify a specific time for dead bodies. For registration cases, the processing time was estimated to be eight working days when we read the page 26 October 2026, if the case does not need to be completed. A supplementation can add two to five working days, and the decision by mail takes about two working days more. In summer and around the end of the year, the time is often longer.

Source: Lantmäteriet: Processing time for registration cases.

If the heirs keep the property

Then the one or ones who inherit apply for registration of title in their own name. If the estate of a deceased person has several beneficiaries, an original division of estate document, signed by all beneficiaries of the estate or their representatives, and a certified copy of the registered estate inventory are required. For inheritances from 1 July 2026, the person receiving the property must state their Swedish personal identity number or coordination number. No stamp duty is paid in the case of inheritance, only the registration fee, and this can be multiple if different people receive different properties.

If the heir sells the property later, the heir takes over the deceased person's purchase price when calculating the profit. The value in the estate inventory cannot be used as the purchase price. More information can be found in the guide to capital gains tax.

Source: Lantmäteriet: Application for registration of title in the case of inheritance, Lantmäteriet: Stamp duty and fees, Skatteverket: Sale of single-family homes or tenant-owned apartments.

The law behind it

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