If the deceased did not make a will or a contract of succession, the statutory heirs may apply for a certificate of inheritance; these are, depending on the case, the deceased's wife, husband, registered partner, descendants (i.e. children and their descendants) or, if applicable, parents and their children (i.e. the deceased's brothers and sisters).
If there is a will or a contract of succession, the certificate of inheritance can only be applied for after the official notice of the will or the contract is given by the competent authority.