What is renunciation?
Renunciation means fully refusing your share in the estate. You inherit nothing, but you are not liable for any debt either. Renunciation works retroactively, as if you were never an heir.
When to renounce?
- the estate is certainly insolvent (more debts than assets);
- you want to shift your share to your own children for tax planning;
- you have personal reasons to want nothing from this person.
How to renounce
You file a declaration of renunciation at the court registry in the district where the deceased lived. Steps mirror beneficial acceptance:
- Complete the renunciation form (downloadable from rechtspraak.nl);
- File it in person or by post;
- Pay the court fee (around 130 EUR in 2026);
- Receive a registration confirmation.
Important: do not act first
As with beneficial acceptance, you must not have taken acts of acceptance before renouncing. Concretely:
- do not withdraw money from the deceased's account for yourself;
- do not take or divide personal items;
- do not clear out the home;
- do not put subscriptions into your own name.
If you have done any of these, you usually cannot renounce.
What happens to your share?
If you renounce, your share goes to the next in line under statutory rules or the will. If you have your own children, your share usually goes to them via representation. Note: if debts are the reason, your minor children also need protection. You must then renounce on their behalf with the cantonal judge's permission.
Tax: can renouncing be advantageous?
Sometimes. If a parent renounces in favour of their children, those children inherit directly. For inheritance tax the grandchild rate and exemption applies in place of the child rate. Grandchildren have 25,000 EUR exemption but pay 18 % or 36 % instead of 10 / 20. Whether this is favourable depends on the amounts.
Tip
Discuss renunciation with a notary or tax advisor first. Combining your children's beneficial acceptance with your own is often safer than renunciation if you only want debt protection. Read about beneficial acceptance.