Death and inheritance

When a person dies a schedule needs to be made of the deceased's assets and liabilities - an estate inventory.

The district court can appoint an estate administrator to prepare the estate inventory. The district court can also, if necessary, appoint an estate distributor; a person who determines how the inheritance should be distributed. It is possible to apply for both simultaneously or separately.

The district court may determine contentious cases

The district court may determine contentious cases (a dispute arises if two people are not in agreement), which may arise when a will should be interpreted or an inheritance distributed. One example of such a contentious case is the challenge of a will. Such a case can relate to whether the rules regarding form applicable to wills have been satisfied, for example if the person who wrote the will was mentally ill or if the signature is not witnessed.