Content and effects of the European Certificate of succession as proposed in the Proposal for a Regulation on Succession and Wills

This note analyses the provisions on the content and effects of the European Certificate of Succession, laid down in the Proposal for a Regulation on Succession and Wills. The main purpose of the European Certificate is to constitute a proof of the capacity of heir or legatee and the powers of the executors of wills or thirdparty administrators. There is close link between the content and the effects of the European Certificate of succession. They follow from the purpose for which the certificate is issued. Following the note's conclusions, the European Certificate cannot constitute a title for entries in public registers.