Documents & Legal
Testament, levenstestament, wilsverklaring, codicil, and the paperwork that holds up in NL.
12 pieces in this topic.
What papers must be findable when you die
Fourteen documents your family needs in the first week — from ID to wensenboek to digital access.
What to bring to your notaris meeting
Many notarissen quote a fixed price for a testament; others bill by time — preparation keeps either lower.
DigiD and online accounts after death in the Netherlands
Once the BRP records the death, DigiD can no longer be newly activated; government services update automatically, but banks must be notified by someone.
Levenstestament — what it covers in the Netherlands
A levenstestament takes effect during life if you lose capacity, not after death.
Testament — what a will actually does in the Netherlands
A testament takes effect after death; original stays with the notaris, registered in the CTR.
What happens to your ZZP after death
About 1.2 million people in the Netherlands work as ZZP (self-employed). Most have no plan for what happens to the business if they die.
Wilsverklaring: the advance directive in the Netherlands
A wilsverklaring is a personal written declaration of medical wishes; can be handwritten and self-signed.
Insurance: which policies matter when you die
Around 70% of Dutch people have an uitvaartverzekering; a large share of older policies (often EUR 3,000–5,000) no longer cover today's average funeral of around EUR 10,000.
Password manager and the kill-switch: a 30-minute setup
Apple Legacy Contact, Google Inactive Account Manager, password manager emergency access — three native kill-switches.
Codicil — the document most people don't know they can write
A codicil is a private handwritten document recognised under article 4:97 BW — no notaris, no fee.
What happens to your bank account after death
Personal accounts freeze once someone notifies the bank; banks are not told automatically. An en/of-rekening continues for the surviving holder.
Subscriptions and recurring payments after death
Bank freeze stops most automatische incasso but does not cancel underlying contracts.