How to Search the Centraal Testamentenregister for a Will in the Netherlands
How to Search the Centraal Testamentenregister for a Will in the Netherlands
When someone dies in the Netherlands, one of the first questions is whether they left a will. The answer determines who inherits, whether an executor is appointed, and how the estate is settled. The Central Wills Register (Centraal Testamentenregister — CTR) in The Hague is where you find out.
What the CTR Tracks
Every will executed before a Dutch notary is registered in the CTR. The register records:
- The date the will was executed
- The name of the notary who holds the original
- Whether the will was later revoked or replaced by a new one
The CTR does not store the content of the will — it only confirms that a will exists and identifies which notary has it. To read the actual will, you contact that notary directly.
Who Can Search
Anyone can search the CTR after a person has died. Searches before death are not permitted — the register is strictly a post-mortem tool. Close relatives, heirs, executors, and legal representatives all have access.
How to Search Online (Free)
For deaths that occurred after September 30, 1994, where the deceased lived and died in the Netherlands, you can search the CTR online at no cost:
- Go to the CTR's website
- Submit an application with the deceased's full name, date of birth, and date of death
- Provide a copy of the death certificate
The CTR returns results confirming whether a will is registered and, if so, the notary holding it.
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How to Search by Post
For deaths before October 1, 1994, or when the deceased lived abroad, submit a written request to the CTR by post. Include:
- A copy of the death certificate
- The deceased's full name, date of birth, date of death, and last known address
- Your contact details and relationship to the deceased
Written requests typically receive a response within one week, though searches for wills executed before 1976 may take longer due to older archive formats.
What Happens After the Search
If a will is found: Contact the notary listed in the CTR result. The notary holds the original will and will schedule an appointment to review its contents with the heirs. The notary also uses this meeting to explain the three inheritance acceptance options and begin the Certificate of Inheritance process.
If no will is found: The estate is distributed according to Dutch intestacy law (wettelijke verdeling). The default rules determine who inherits based on family relationships — the surviving spouse and children inherit first, with specific protections for the surviving partner.
If the CTR result is ambiguous: In rare cases, a will may have been registered but the notary's office has since closed. The Dutch Notarial Association (Koninklijke Notariële Beroepsorganisatie — KNB) maintains records of which notary inherited the closed practice's archives. The CTR result typically includes this information.
Wills From Other Countries
The CTR only registers wills executed before Dutch notaries. If the deceased also executed a will in another country (the UK, US, Australia, etc.), it will not appear in the CTR. Cross-border estates may have valid wills in multiple jurisdictions, each governing assets in that country.
For EU residents, the European Succession Regulation determines which country's law applies to the estate. The deceased's habitual residence at the time of death is typically the default, though they may have elected their nationality's law in their will.
Heirs dealing with cross-border estates should verify whether wills exist in all relevant jurisdictions — the CTR search covers only the Dutch side.
The Someone Died in Netherlands: English Speaker's Emergency Guide includes the complete will search process, direct links to the CTR search portal, and guidance on coordinating cross-border will searches when the deceased had connections to multiple countries.
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