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Indebted estate may receive payment claim

If an indebted relative dies, you may receive a letter about debts that the estate has with us.

You get the letter because you are a representative of the estate. The estate has a debt registered with us. Meaning, it is the estate and not you who has debts with us.

What to do if there are assets

  • Pay the debt using the assets of the estate.
  • If the assets in the estate have already been distributed between the beneficiaries, you must return an amount to the estate that covers the debt. Then pay the debt.
  • The beneficiaries of the estate are jointly (jointly and severally) liable to pay. That means that if one of you has used their share and cannot return enough or anything at all to the estate, the rest of you are obligated to pay the debt.

Pay the Enforcement Authority

What happens if you do not pay

We investigate what assets the estate has, if you as beneficiaries of the estate do not pay the debt. The debt can be paid by, for example, attaching

  • movable property, such as money, a car, or a claim (for example, the estate’s tax refund)
  • real estate, such as a residence.

Please note

If there are several beneficiaries of the estate, it is important that everyone signs the acknowledgement of receipt if attachment has occurred. If there is an estate administrator representing the estate, not all beneficiaries of the estate need to sign.

The estate lacks assets

If the estate lacks assets, you don't have to personally pay the debts.

If there is anything left

Assets left over after the estate's debts have been paid will go to you and the other beneficiaries of the estate. If there are several beneficiaries of the estate, you divide the assets through a so-called distribution of an estate.

You don't inherit debt

Under Swedish law, you don't inherit debt. If you live abroad, you need to know that the EU introduced a new regulation in 2015. It states it is the law of the country you live in that governs. You can find more information about inheritance law in the EU at the European e-Justice Portal.

More information

Swedish Tax Agency:

European e-Justice Portal:

General information on inheritance law (in Swedish)