Important: For general educational information only. This is not legal, tax or financial advice, and reading it does not create a professional-client relationship. Laws and procedures vary by jurisdiction and can change. Consult a qualified professional in each place relevant to you and your assets before making decisions.
Decide how the original will can be found
Croatia’s government guidance says a will may be kept by the testator or entrusted to another person or entity. It also describes the Croatian Register of Wills and explains that a court, notary or consular official entrusted with safekeeping must notify the register. These are practical record-location points: they do not tell a family whether a document is valid or what it means.
Make a private record of where the original is held and who can explain how to locate it. Do not circulate sensitive copies unnecessarily, and do not assume a family member will know that a will exists.
Questions to bring to an adviser
- Where is the signed original, and who knows how to locate it?
- Was it left for safekeeping with a court, notary or consular official?
Do not treat registration as a substitute for legal review
The official page expressly says that not registering a will or placing it in special safekeeping does not affect its validity. Conversely, registration or storage is not a ruling that the will is valid, current or suitable for every asset. If circumstances or documents have changed, ask a Croatian professional to review the actual will and any other relevant documents.
The government’s separate page on inheritance proceedings describes proceedings after a death before a court or notary. Locating a will, determining what it says and administering an estate are distinct tasks.
Questions to bring to an adviser
- Has a later document or life change affected the plan?
- Who can verify the document and explain the current court or notary process?
Keep the jurisdiction boundary clear
This is a Croatia-specific starting point based on Croatian government information. It does not resolve a will made abroad, property outside Croatia, tax, or how Croatian procedure interacts with another country. Tell local counsel about residence, nationalities, property locations and every known will before relying on a storage or register entry.
This guide has not been reviewed by a lawyer or human editor; consult qualified local counsel in Croatia and in any other relevant jurisdiction.
Questions to bring to an adviser
- Are any assets, residence history or wills connected to another country?
- Which local procedures should be confirmed before an original is lodged or retrieved?
Official starting points
Check these sources for updates; their guidance may have changed since our last source check.
This guide cannot determine which rules apply to you. Speak with a qualified professional in each jurisdiction relevant to your family and assets.