How is a will drawn up and can I register it?
Last update: 10/3/2012
Form of the will
A will must be drawn up in writing (but not necessarily handwritten) and signed by the deceased. The deceased’s signature must be appended in the presence of two witnesses and attested by them. The witnesses must also sign the will. Joint wills are also permissible.
A will drawn up abroad is, in principle, valid in Sweden if it complies with the laws of the country where it was drawn up.
There is no register of wills in Sweden. Consequently, it is not possible to register a will.
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Detailed information
What are the conditions governing the validity of a will as regards its form and substance?
In addition to the power and desire to make a will, the law requires observance of the formal requirements as a validity condition: individual will or joint will, drawn up by two or more persons.
Both types of will must be made in writing. Moreover, a typed will must be signed, in the simultaneous presence of two witnesses, by the witnesses and the deceased in their own hand (10:1 ÄB). The witnesses must not be subject to a participation ban (because of family ties or their appointment as legatees, etc). Wills drawn up in exceptional circumstances are subject to a limited validity period.
What are the validity conditions for a will originating from another State?
The provisions of The Hague Convention on the Conflicts of Laws relating to the Form of Testamentary Dispositions of 1961 apply.
Are agreements relating to a future inheritance authorised? Who can conclude such an agreement? What form must be respected?
An inheritance agreement with a restrictive effect on the deceased is not admissible, any more than a general restrictive effect with regard to joint wills (10:5, 17:3 ÄB).
Are there other possibilities for settling a succession?
Gifts made while the deceased is living.
How and where can I register a will? What is the effect of registration?
The registration of the will with a public authority is not stipulated.
