What Happens After Death? Complete Timeline for 12 Months

After a death, there are hundreds of practical matters to handle. This timeline shows what happens, in what order, and when statutory deadlines expire. Statutory deadlines are marked in red.

STATUTORY — Deadline set by law, penalty for late compliance

IMPORTANT — Important to handle, no statutory sanction

REMEMBER — Good to keep in mind

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Timeline

(Note: The timeline content is rendered by the DeathTimeline component. Below is the surrounding content.)

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Frequently Asked Questions

How soon must the estate inventory be completed? The estate inventory must be completed within three months of death. If you cannot meet this deadline, you can apply for an extension through Verohallinto's OmaVero before the deadline expires, provided you have a justified reason.

What happens if the estate inventory deadline is missed? Verohallinto may impose a late payment fee and tax increase. If you are already late, contact Verohallinto through OmaVero — a late submission is better than no submission at all.

How do I apply for an extension for the estate inventory? An extension is applied for through Verohallinto's OmaVero before the three-month deadline expires. The request requires a justified reason, such as incomplete documents or an heir's illness.

When can the distribution of the estate be carried out? The distribution of the estate can be carried out once inheritance tax has been paid — in practice, months or even a year after death. There is no fixed statutory deadline for distributing the estate.

Must an estate inventory be completed if the deceased had no assets? Yes. The estate inventory is mandatory for all persons who resided in Finland, regardless of the amount of assets. An estate inventory document must also be prepared for an estate with no assets or with debts.