[Glossary](https://pecuvo.eu/en/glossary/) · Pensions and insurance # Inheritance **In short:** An inheritance is the property, rights and debts of a deceased person that pass to their heirs — under the law or under a will. **Simply put:** When someone dies, the family first establishes who the heirs are and what the estate contains. Pension accounts can be inherited too. Some countries tax inheritances, often depending on kinship. In the EU, Regulation (EU) No 650/2012 decides which law applies to a cross-border case. **Example:** A son inherits his mother's flat. In Bulgaria, as an heir in the direct line, he pays no inheritance tax. A niece inheriting a share may owe tax on the part above the threshold. **Watch out:** Calls about an "inheritance tax" or a "fee for access to the account" are a known scam. Use only official sources: a notary, the bank, the tax and social security authorities. > **Example: Bulgaria** — Heirs are established with a certificate of heirs from the mayor of the deceased's last permanent address. Under the Local Taxes and Fees Act, Art. 29–43, the spouse and direct-line heirs do not pay (Art. 31(2)); others owe tax on the share above 250,000 leva (≈ €127,823) (Art. 36). Second-pillar savings pass to the heirs (Social Security Code, Art. 170). > > **Check in your country** — See the European e-Justice Portal's "Succession" page for your country. **Source:** *Your Europe*, "Managing an inheritance" — https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/family/inheritances/managing-inheritance/index_en.htm · Local Taxes and Fees Act (Bulgaria) (in Bulgarian) — https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/2134174720 ## In depth in the modules - [Module 15](https://pecuvo.eu/en/modules/life-strategies-by-stage/) - [Module 27](https://pecuvo.eu/en/modules/taxes-and-public-spending/) - [Module 25](https://pecuvo.eu/en/modules/pensions-three-pillars/) ## Related terms - [Will](https://pecuvo.eu/en/glossary/will/) - [Power of attorney](https://pecuvo.eu/en/glossary/power-of-attorney/) - [Local taxes and fees](https://pecuvo.eu/en/glossary/local-taxes/) - [Second pillar](https://pecuvo.eu/en/glossary/second-pillar/) - [Third pillar (voluntary pension)](https://pecuvo.eu/en/glossary/third-pillar/)