"An unexpected (and complicated) legacy in Italy."

14/03/2025   Category:  Customer Experiences

When my father passed away, I suddenly found myself heir to a house in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy. He had lived there for years, but I, living in the United States, knew almost nothing about it.

The notary in Italy asked me to check the legal status of the property before starting the succession. And so I discovered the services of the Conservatoria.

With a mortgage inspection and a copy of the registered deeds, I finally had a clear picture: the house was properly titled, but there was an old mortgage that had never been cancelled, dating back to the 1990s!

Without that verification, I would have risked inheriting problems not my own as well.

We worked it all out, but now I know: in Italy, before saying "it's mine," check the records thoroughly.

- Mark, Austin (Texas)