What if heirs cannot agree?
What would you like help with?
Detailed explanation, checklist and sources
Heirs often share rights and responsibilities. Therefore, make clear what belongs to the inheritance and who may make which decisions. Otherwise, one disagreement can bring the settlement of the entire estate to a standstill.
General information about Dutch law · Reviewed on · How we work
On this page
Create one shared estate overview
Record assets, debts, valuations, payments and proposals. Obtain bank documents and records, and prevent property from disappearing.
Separate administration from distribution
Paying necessary expenses and safeguarding items is different from distributing them definitively. Check who is authorised: the heirs jointly, an executor or an estate administrator.
Present a concrete proposal
Use valuations and a written distribution list. If negotiation or mediation does not succeed, the court may be asked to order measures or distribution.
Further points to check
Start with values at death: check ownership, accounts, home, belongings and all debts. A joint account is not automatically wholly or half the deceased's; investigate contributions and agreements. Include unpaid bills, loans, taxes, paper gifts, legacies and earlier child-share claims. Record who acts: an authorised executor or jointly appointed representative. Assess debts and liquidation rules before division; errors after beneficial acceptance can cause personal liability. Divide only the available remainder under law or will and adjust for unequal goods received. For belongings, jointly agree in advance on a family auction or drawing lots and value offsets. A notary can seek agreement and record remaining disputes. Mediation requires voluntary participation; the agreed settlement contract makes the outcome binding. For a valuation-only dispute, jointly instruct an expert to give binding advice and define beforehand what binds you. If agreement fails, discuss court division with a lawyer; time, costs and the final judicial decision are uncertain.
Your checklist
Prepare your next stepFill in and save · Word
Tick what you have checked or collected. Note what is missing and take your overview to a meeting.
Unless saved in My overview: Your entries stay only on this screen. Download before leaving; closing or reloading clears them. Do not enter identity numbers, passwords or unnecessary personal details.
What do you still need for your next step?
Item 1 / 6 · Where do you stand with this item?
Certificate of inheritance
This overview follows your own answers. It does not assess your rights or guarantee that your file is complete.
Your choices stay here. Use the buttons below if you want to save or download.
View all details, notes and timeline
Your timeline and evidence
List events and contacts. Note where you keep the evidence; no upload is needed.
What goes in my timeline?
Record what happened, when, the response and where to find the letter, message or photo. Mark uncertain dates.
Is my evidence sent?
No. You only note where it is kept. No files are uploaded or sent automatically.
How do I save my timeline?
Your entries are not saved automatically. Choose Save and continue later to store this preparation, including your timeline, in My overview. Wait for confirmation and save new changes again. You can also download a Word file without an account.
Up to 20 events. Choose a different position for an event to change the order.
0 / 6 · Checked or collected
For each event, note the date, what happened and where the evidence is kept. Example: 3 October — letter received — correspondence folder.
Describe the solution you would like, such as an explanation of a deduction and repayment of the outstanding amount.
For example: which document is missing, who can provide it and what should I do first?
Record the date and its source. If unknown, note this and check promptly. This tool does not calculate or monitor deadlines.
After your conversation
These are your own notes. Confirm agreements with the other person; these notes do not prove their agreement.
This is your preparation, not a submitted request, objection or legally reviewed document. A tick records only your own progress. Check the procedure and deadline in the original letter.
Save and continue later
Clear entries
Download anything you want to keep first. Clearing cannot be undone.
- Certificate of inheritance
- Will
- Inventory of the estate
- Valuations
- Accounts and payments
- Written proposals
Frequently asked questions
Can one heir sell the house?
Usually not where the house jointly forms part of the undivided estate, unless authority is arranged otherwise.
Can I force distribution?
An heir may in principle demand distribution, but the will, estate administration and special circumstances may have an effect.