- by croatiaweek
- June 8, 2026
-
in
News
ZAGREB, 8 June 2026 – In Croatia, inheritance is regulated either by the Inheritance Act or according to the wishes set out in a valid will. Individuals also have the right to renounce an inheritance, but what happens when a deceased person leaves behind no heirs at all? Dnevnik.hr explains.
Under Croatian law, inheritance rights are acquired at the moment of a person’s death, either through legal succession or on the basis of a will.
If no will exists, the deceased person’s estate is inherited by statutory heirs according to a defined order of succession. The law provides that relatives in a closer inheritance line take precedence over those in more distant lines.
Inheritance Through a Will
Any person aged 16 or over who is capable of making informed decisions may draw up a will. Through a will, an individual can determine how their property will be distributed after death.
However, Croatian law places certain limits on testamentary freedom. A specific group of close relatives is entitled to a compulsory share of the estate, regardless of the contents of the will.
What Happens If There Are No Heirs?
If a deceased person has neither statutory heirs nor heirs named in a will, their property passes to the municipality or city.
In such cases, local authorities assume the same legal position as heirs. Unlike private individuals, however, municipalities and cities cannot renounce this right.
The estate that passes to a municipality or city in these circumstances is known as ošasna imovina (escheated or ownerless property).
What Is ‘Ošasna Imovina’?
Croatian law defines ošasna imovina as an estate left without heirs. When no eligible heir exists, the entire estate is transferred to the relevant municipality or city.
The rules depend on the type and location of the property:
• Real estate and related rights pass to the municipality or city in whose territory the property is located.
• Movable property and related rights pass to the municipality or city where the deceased had their registered residence or temporary residence in Croatia at the time of death.
• If applicable, the transfer may also be linked to the location where the deceased was registered in Croatia’s citizenship records.
Liability for Debts
The law also limits the responsibility of municipalities and cities for the deceased person’s debts.
Local authorities that inherit ošasna imovina are not liable to creditors with all of their assets. Their liability is restricted to the value of the inherited estate.
Additional Costs for Local Authorities
Although municipalities and cities inherit the estate, the transfer process can generate additional expenses.
These may include fees for notaries public, legal representation costs and property valuation expenses.
Such costs are not considered inherited obligations and must be covered from the municipality’s or city’s own budget.
As a result, while local authorities acquire ownership of heirless estates, they may also face financial costs associated with the administration and transfer of those assets.
