Inheriting Property in Poland While Living in the UK: A Step-by-Step Guide

This guide is general legal information, not legal advice. How the rules apply depends on your individual circumstances, and the matter should be assessed by a qualified Polish lawyer. Twoja Sprawa helps you organise the documents for that assessment.

You're in London. You've just heard that your mother in Warsaw has died. The question now is: can you inherit and settle the whole estate without leaving the UK? Can it really all be done remotely?

The answer is: yes, but it takes a proper plan. This guide walks through, step by step, what to do, which documents to prepare, and how to appoint someone in Poland to act on your behalf so the process runs smoothly.

Step 1 — Power of attorney (UK notary + apostille)

If you're outside Poland and want someone to act on your behalf — collecting documents, signing papers before a notariusz (a civil-law notary, ≠ a UK notary public), and so on — you need to issue a notarised power of attorney.

Where and with whom?

The power of attorney should be drawn up before a notary in the UK (it can also be done through a Polish civil-law notary via the consulate, but that route is more complicated).

UK notary: - Timing: 1–2 working days to book an appointment - Cost: £50–150 (varies by notary) - Format: the notary drafts the document (a Power of Attorney) using the English-law template

Apostille — international certification

Once the power of attorney has been notarised, it needs an apostille attached.

An apostille is an international certification confirming the document is genuine (under the 1961 Hague Convention).

Where is the apostille attached? - A UK notary will automatically attach the apostille (this is standard practice) - Cost: £20–50 (usually already included in the notary's fee, sometimes charged separately)

What is an apostille in practice? - A stamp and signature on a separate page - It certifies the document came from a genuine notary - Without it, a Polish court will not recognise the document

Translation into Polish

The power of attorney is in English. A Polish court or notary will require a certified (sworn) translation into Polish.

Where to get one? - A sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły) working in the UK - Online (some translation agencies work remotely)

Cost: £30–100 (depends on the translator)

Turnaround: 2–5 working days

Preparing the power of attorney — the process

1. Book an appointment with a UK notary (by phone or online)
2. The notary drafts the power of attorney
3. You attend the notary's office in person (the notary must verify your identity)
4. The notary attaches the apostille
5. The notary sends you the power of attorney (or you collect it in person)
6. You send the power of attorney to the sworn translator
7. The translator returns the translation together with the original
8. You send the complete pack (original + translation + apostille) to your representative in Poland

Total time: 1–2 weeks (if everything moves quickly)

Total cost: £80–250 plus the cost of translation

Step 2 — Statement of acceptance or renunciation (6 months! — a strict deadline) ✅

This is the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT deadline.

You have exactly 6 months from the day you learned of your right to inherit to decide whether to:

• Accept the inheritance — if you want to inherit
• Renounce the inheritance — if you don't want it, or you're worried about debts

If you do nothing within 6 months, you are treated as having accepted the inheritance automatically.

How do you file the statement from the UK?

Option A — Through a representative in Poland (recommended)

Your representative goes to the appropriate district court (sąd rejonowy — the one covering the deceased's last place of residence in Poland) and files the statement of acceptance or renunciation.

Procedure: 1. You prepare a written statement of acceptance (e.g. "I accept the inheritance from Maria X, who died on [date] in [place]") 2. Your representative attends the district court with your power of attorney (notarised, apostilled and translated) 3. The court records the statement (a formal record) 4. Your representative receives confirmation (a court certificate) 5. Your representative sends you a copy (by email or post)

Timing: around 1 week (if the representative moves quickly)

Option B — Before a Polish notary (sometimes quicker)

Some courts accept a statement of acceptance made before a notary instead. The procedure is the same, except the notary certifies it rather than the court recording it.

⚠️ Always check with your representative or the notary which route applies in your local court district.

What happens once the statement is filed?

Once you have filed a statement of acceptance: - You are officially an heir - You can start acting: gathering documents, handling estate matters, and so on - But you can no longer withdraw (renounce) — the deadline has passed

Step 3 — Certificate of succession (court order or notarial deed — APD)

Once your acceptance is confirmed, you need an official document confirming you are an heir.

This is either an APD (Akt Poświadczenia Dziedziczenia — a notarial certificate of succession) or a Stwierdzenie Nabycia Spadku (a court order confirming acquisition of the inheritance).

The notarial route — an APD from a notary (faster, easier)

Where: - A notary's office in Poland (the correct venue is determined by the district of the land registry court where any property is located, or by the deceased's last place of residence)

Documents you'll need to provide: - The full death certificate (not an abbreviated version) - The will, if one exists - Identity documents for the heir (passport, ID card, PESEL number) - Property documents (an extract from the księga wieczysta — land and mortgage register — if there is a property) - The power of attorney (notarised, apostilled and translated)

Procedure: 1. Your representative gathers the documents 2. Your representative attends the notary with the full pack 3. The notary checks everything is genuine (and may ask for further documents) 4. The notary issues the APD (naming you as heir, on the strength of the power of attorney) 5. The APD is issued in at least 2 copies

Timing: 2–4 weeks (if there are no complications)

Cost: roughly 200–800 PLN (around 0.5% of the estate's value)

The court route — non-contentious proceedings (if the notary declines)

If a notary cannot issue an APD (for example, documents are missing, or there is a dispute over who the heirs are), the matter has to go to the district court instead.

Procedure: 1. Your representative or a lawyer prepares an application 2. The application is filed with the district court (the one covering the deceased's last place of residence) 3. The court examines the case (it may request evidence, witnesses, etc.) 4. The court issues a ruling — a Stwierdzenie Nabycia Spadku 5. The ruling is issued in at least 2 copies

Timing: 6–12 months

Cost: court fee (roughly 500–1,000 PLN) plus a lawyer (roughly 1,000–3,000 PLN)

Step 4 — Division of the estate (if needed)

If there is more than one heir (for example, you and your sister), the estate has to be divided.

Division by agreement before a notary (faster)

Procedure: 1. You and the other heirs agree who gets what (negotiation) 2. You draw up a division agreement 3. Your representative in Poland attends the notary with the agreement 4. All heirs must be present (or represented by their own representatives) 5. The notary certifies the agreement 6. The notary issues the division agreement in 2 or more copies

Timing: 2–4 weeks

Cost: 0.5–1% of the estate's value

Division through the court (if the heirs can't agree)

If the heirs can't reach agreement: 1. One heir applies to the court 2. The court divides the estate (a court ruling) 3. Timing: 6–12 months 4. Cost: court fee plus a lawyer

Step 5 — Land registry entry, transferring bank accounts, and inheritance tax

A. Updating the Land and Mortgage Register (Księga Wieczysta, KW) for property

Once you have the APD:

1. Your representative attends the relevant land registry court (covering the location of the property)
2. Files the APD together with an application to update the KW entry
3. The land registry court updates the registered owner (to you)
4. Timing for the entry: 2–6 weeks

Cost: court fee (roughly 200–500 PLN)

B. Transferring bank accounts

If the deceased held a bank account:

1. Your representative attends the bank with the APD and identity documents
2. The bank will also require a certificate confirming that inheritance tax has been paid (issued by the tax office)
3. Once that certificate is provided, the bank transfers the funds to the new account

Timing: 2–4 weeks (after the tax certificate is obtained)

C. Inheritance tax (form SD-Z2)

DEADLINE: within 6 months of the estate opening (i.e. the date of death)!

Procedure:

1. Obtain form SD-Z2 (available from a notary or on the Ministry of Finance website)

2. Complete it with: - The deceased's details (name, PESEL number, date of death) - Your details as heir - The value of the estate (property, money, other assets) - Any debts forming part of the estate

3. File it with the tax office (Urząd Skarbowy — the one covering your place of residence, or the estate's location) - In person: not possible (you're in the UK) - By registered post: your representative sends it - Electronically (via the e-podatki portal), if you have access

4. Pay the tax: by bank transfer to the tax office's account

Tax rates (Group I — close family): 3–7%

Family exemption: up to 1.4 million PLN per child/spouse

Cost: depends on the value of the estate (3–7% for close family)

Apostilles and sworn translations — what everything costs

Here's a breakdown of the likely costs:

Total cost of the process (excluding property): - ~£100–300 (UK side) - ~1,000–2,500 PLN (Poland side) - plus inheritance tax (3–7% of the estate's value)

FAQ

Can I renounce the inheritance through the Polish consulate?

⚠️ No. Renouncing an inheritance cannot be done through the consulate.

Renunciation has to be filed either: - In person, before a Polish district court, or - Through a representative in Poland (with a notarised power of attorney, apostilled and translated)

Deadline: 6 months from the date you learned of your right to inherit.

The Polish consulate can help organisationally (advice, contacts for notaries), but it does not formally accept these statements.

Do I need permission from the Ministry of the Interior (MSWiA)?

⚠️ It depends. Since Brexit, UK nationals may need permission from the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA) to inherit property in Poland.

Always check with the notary: they will know whether this requirement applies in your local court district.

If it does apply, your representative files an application with the regional governor's office (Wojewoda); this adds a further 2–4 weeks.

How long can I afford to wait?

CRITICAL deadlines:

1. 6 months — for the statement of acceptance or renunciation (an absolute deadline)
2. 6 months — for the SD-Z2 tax declaration — after which penalties can apply
3. After these deadlines you can still act, but you risk penalties

Summary — quick timeline

Next steps

1. Book an appointment with a UK notary — for the power of attorney
2. Appoint a representative in Poland — someone you trust (family, a friend, or a lawyer)
3. Gather the documents (death certificate, will, proof of identity)
4. File your statement of acceptance (or renunciation) within 6 months
5. Visit the Polish notary with the power of attorney and documents
6. Deal with the tax (SD-Z2) at the tax office

Disclaimer: This material is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Twoja Sprawa is an information and coordination platform, not a law firm. Every case should be assessed individually with a notary and, where necessary, a qualified lawyer.

Content last reviewed: 27 June 2026.