The Ward Office Closes in 7 Days. Your Bank Account Is Already Frozen.
Someone you love just died in Japan. Everything is in Japanese. The municipal deadlines are already running. And every English-language resource you find says the same thing: "contact your embassy" — which is legally prohibited from helping you with the actual paperwork.
You're facing a system with no probate court, no appointed executor, and no English forms. A system where touching a utility bill can make you personally liable for the deceased's debts. Where your dependent visa expires in 14 days if you don't file the right notification. Where the bank won't release funeral money without documents that don't exist in English.
The Japan Death Navigation System
This isn't a generic "what to expect" pamphlet translated from a US estate planning template. It's a chronological action system built specifically for English speakers in the Japanese legal framework — with bilingual scripts, ward-office filing sequences, and exact deadline maps that account for the unique way Japan handles death.
Japan doesn't do probate. The moment someone dies, everything — assets, debts, property, bank accounts — transfers instantly to all statutory heirs. That's called universal succession, and it means you're already responsible for the estate whether you've signed anything or not. The guide tells you exactly what to do (and what not to touch) from hour one.
What's Inside: 12 PDFs, Including 10 Standalone Printables
- 15-Chapter Emergency Guide — the complete chronological action system from day one through final asset transfer, with bilingual scripts and deadline maps throughout
- Ward Office Filing Checklist — the exact counter sequence for filing the Shibotodoke (death notification), obtaining the cremation permit, and getting certified copies before the 7-day deadline locks you out
- Bank Account Unfreezing Script — bilingual templates for the Article 909-2 emergency withdrawal that lets you access up to ¥1.5 million per bank without waiting for full inheritance division
- Cremation & Repatriation Decision Tree — costs, wait times, embassy coordination steps, and the specific documents needed to ship remains internationally
- Inheritance Division Agreement Template — the fillable bilingual Isan Bunkatsu Kyogisho that satisfies Japanese legal requirements, with English margin annotations
- Visa Crisis Flowchart — the 14-day immigration notification for dependent visa holders, status-change options, and the exact Article 19-16 filing that prevents deportation
- 3-Month Debt Shield Checklist — how to file inheritance renunciation with the Family Court before automatic Simple Acceptance makes you liable for debts you didn't know existed
- Property Registration Deadline Map — the 2024 mandatory registration law means inherited real estate must be registered within 3 years or face ¥100,000 recurring fines
- Inheritance Tax Scope Classifier — maps your visa type (Table 1 vs. Table 2) to your exact tax liability, so you know whether Japan taxes your worldwide assets or only Japan-situs property
- Administrative Glossary — 80+ Japanese bureaucratic terms with phonetic readings, translations, and the specific context where each document appears
- Statutory Deadline Calendar — every required filing from day one through year three, with checkboxes and fill-in date fields
- Emergency Checklist — the free quick-start checklist organized by deadline windows (7 days, 14 days, 3 months, 10 months)
Who This Is For
- Expats in Japan who just lost a spouse or family member and need to act within days
- Families overseas coordinating from abroad after a relative dies in Japan — you don't need to fly there to handle most filings
- De-facto partners locked out of the estate because Japanese law doesn't recognize common-law marriage for inheritance
- Corporate HR teams supporting employees through bereavement in Japan and need a structured handoff resource
- Anyone with minor heirs facing the Article 826 conflict-of-interest bottleneck that freezes estates for months
Why Free Resources Won't Work Here
Embassy portals are legally prohibited from providing administrative, financial, or legal assistance. They give you a phone list and a condolence form. They cannot tell you filing sequences, deadlines, or what documents to bring where.
Expat forums are full of advice that will get you sued. "Just empty the bank account before they find out" triggers a tax audit. "Don't worry about the property" triggers ¥100,000 fines under the 2024 registration mandate. Well-meaning strangers don't know the 2024 law changes.
Bilingual law firms charge ¥200,000–¥300,000 for full estate administration. A single consultation costs ¥11,000/hour. The guide's templates and scripts let you handle standard filings yourself — and arrive prepared for the complex parts, cutting billable hours when you do need professional help.
Satisfaction Guarantee
If the guide doesn't give you clarity on your next steps within the first 24 hours of downloading it, email us for a full refund. No hoops, no proof-of-use requirements. You're dealing with enough bureaucracy already.
— Less Than One Hour of a Bilingual Scrivener
A judicial scrivener charges ¥11,000 per hour just to explain what you're facing. The guide gives you the complete filing sequence, bilingual templates, and deadline maps — everything you need to navigate the system yourself or dramatically reduce professional fees.
The free checklist covers the emergency first steps. The full guide covers everything from day one through final asset transfer.