Inheritance agreement: Arrangement between the testator and one or more parties which can only be modified upon written consent by all parties. This means that Swiss authorities do not legally need to interfere with an estate probated abroad, even if there are Swiss assets involved, except in exceptional cases. However, if the decedent leave no issue, the legal heirs are his parents. Intestacy In the case that a decedent leaves no will or inheritance agreement, assets pass onto his or her legal heirs. In the absence of any representative of the deceased parents or surviving spouse, the legal heirs are the deceased's grandparents. A holographic will - this must be written entirely in the testator's own hand; or 3. Japanese law to govern his estate. Estate administration in Switzerland The two types of administrator: executor and official administrator. The Hague Convention on the Conflict of Laws Relating to the Form of Testamentary Dispositions governs the validity of foreign wills. Therefore Japanese law will be applied for movable assets, and Swiss law will be applied for immovable assets located in Switzerland. Although it is arguable that this should also be a possibility for foreign nationals domiciled abroad, Swiss court has not yet ruled on the validity of this. Swiss forced heirship entitlements Under Swiss succession law, upon death, individuals may pass on their property by will or by inheritance agreement. In some cases, the authority may nominate an official administrator. An inheritance agreement has to be made by a public official with two witnesses present. Recognition of foreign decisions Following Article 96 of the International Private Law Act, foreign decisions, measures and documents concerning an estate probated abroad will be recognized in Switzerland, in particular if they were rendered in the domicile country of the decedent. If the deceased has no legal heir, the estate is attributed to their domiciled canton. It is therefore not necessary for a judicial procedure to verify the powers of the executor in Switzerland. The heirs automatically become joint owners of the estate until it is formally divided between them. A will by public deed - made by a public official in the presence of two witnesses; 2. Upon the death of the testator, these documents will be opened by the appropriate cantonal authority, and a copy of the document will be sent to the relevant parties. Swiss private international law Swiss private international law dictates that the law of the state in which the decedent was last domiciled is applicable to the estate of the foreigner decedent. It must be noted that an oral will is only possible when the testator is unable to draw up a will in another form - typically, in the case of a life-threatening emergency. Legal heirs can claim their forced heirship amount by way of a specific judicial action; however they also have the opportunity to waive their forced heirship through an inheritance agreement. This is possible under Swiss private international law for either 1 foreign nationals residing in Switzerland or 2 for Swiss nationals domiciled abroad. Both inheritance agreements and wills can be registered at the Swiss Register of Wills in Bern and will not be public. In the case of a Japanese national domiciled in Japan, the transfer of Swiss assets will be governed by Japanese private international law. Consequently, a Japanese executor validly appointed under Japanese law will be able to act in Switzerland and deal with Swiss assets included in the estate. Swiss inheritance law guarantees testamentary freedom. This would apply to a grant of probate issued by a Japanese court. Until then, the estate falls under the administration of the executor.{/INSERTKEYS}{/PARAGRAPH} The testator may designate one or more individuals to be executors of his or her estate, and they are automatically notified upon the death of the testator, and can decline the mandate within 14 days of being notified. Therefore, if a Japanese national was domiciled in Japan when they passed away, and owned Swiss assets, Japanese law would apply. These forced heirship rules have the possibility of being reduced, as legislative form is pending. An oral will - the testator's declaration of his or her last wishes to two witnesses who communicate the will to an authority. Will: a unilateral agreement that may at any time be revoked by the testator. To what extent are foreign wills recognised? However, this principle is limited, due to the fact that legal heirs are entitled to an intangible part of the estate. Formal procedures for making a will There are three types of wills: 1. Swiss forced heirship rules will therefore be applied to Swiss immovable assets. In other hands, the estate probated at the decedent's domicile covers his assets worldwide. According to these rules, the testator must leave a certain proportion of his estate to his children or spouse, or to other relatives that the law dictates. {PARAGRAPH}{INSERTKEYS}Succession of Swiss assets for Japanese nationals Basic principles of inheritance in Switzerland The Swiss inheritance system is based on the principle of unity of succession. However, it is possible for the testator to avoid the application of these rules by stating in his will that he wishes for his national law i. The Swiss intestate regime bases itself on a parental system and the decedent's nearest legal heirs are their direct descendants in equal portion. Paying attention to these rules, it is therefore important for Japanese nationals to create a will in both Japan and Switzerland, ensuring that they follow the rules of both jurisdictions.