SYSTEM NOTICE

Auto translation by AI. Be sure, accuracy, nuances and authorial intent may not be fully reflected.

How the Nationwide Issuance of Family Registers Has Simplified Inheritance Procedures

2026年8月14日 08:23

The first hurdle of inheritance, "collecting family registers," has changed

The first barrier in inheritance procedures is collecting family registers.

To determine the heirs, you must collect all family registers of the deceased from birth to death. However, since a new family register is created every time a registered domicile is changed, the registers of someone who moved frequently are scattered across multiple municipalities.

In the past, the only way to obtain them was to visit the office of each registered domicile or request them by mail. It was not uncommon for the back-and-forth communication with distant offices to take one to two months just for collecting the registers.

This burden was significantly changed by the nationwide issuance system for family register certificates, which began on March 1, 2024.

What is the nationwide issuance system? - You can get them "all at once" at your nearest municipal office

The nationwide issuance system is a mechanism introduced by the revised Family Register Act that allows you to obtain copies of family registers and other documents at the counters of municipal offices other than your registered domicile.

This was made possible by the Ministry of Justice's Family Register Information Linkage System. With nationwide family register data digitally connected, it is now possible to verify and issue family register information from any municipal counter.

This is the biggest advantage in inheritance practice.

You can request the deceased's family registers "from birth to death" all at once at a single municipal office near your home.

There is no longer a need to chase after family registers scattered across multiple municipalities at each individual counter. No travel to distant locations or back-and-forth mail is required. The fees are the same as when obtaining them from the registered domicile. It can be said that the burden of collecting family registers has become dramatically lighter than before.

Usage rules - Who, what, and how

While it is a convenient system, there are rules for its use. If you go to the counter without knowing these, you might end up making a wasted trip.

People who can request them (the scope is limited)

It is important to note that the family registers of siblings cannot be obtained through nationwide issuance. In cases where siblings become heirs (such as the inheritance of someone without children), it is still necessary to request them from the registered domicile as before.

Documents that can and cannot be obtained

Here is an important practical note. The supplementary family register (fuhyo) is not covered by nationwide issuance.

The supplementary family register is a document that proves the history of addresses while in that family register, and it may be required during inheritance registration to prove that the deceased and the owner on the registry are the same person. You might think, "I've collected all the family registers nearby, so now I'm ready for registration," only to find you have to request the supplementary register from the registered domicile again, so be sure to check the required documents first.

Conditions for the procedure

The person must go to the counter in person (mail or online applications are not accepted)
Identity verification documents with a photo, such as a My Number card or driver's license, are mandatory.
Confirmation with the registered domicile may be required, which may result in issuance not being possible on the same day and requiring pickup at a later date.
Services may be limited at municipal branch offices or sub-offices. Please call ahead to confirm.

Smart Ways to Use the System in Inheritance Practice

Here is a summary of practical approaches based on the characteristics of the system.

First, go to the family register counter at the main municipal office in person with your identity verification documents (if possible, make an appointment or call ahead).
State, 'For inheritance procedures, please provide the complete set of family registers for my late father from birth to death.' (By requesting it this way, the counter staff will collect the records going back in time for you).
Allow plenty of time (take into account the possibility that everything may not be ready on the spot and may need to be picked up later).
If you are looking ahead to inheritance registration, confirm with the Legal Affairs Bureau or a judicial scrivener whether a certificate of registered matters (fuhyo) is required, and if so, request it separately from the registered domicile.
In cases of inheritance by siblings, the process cannot be completed through wide-area issuance, so consider requesting assistance from a professional from the start.

Furthermore, if you compile the collected set of family registers into a Statutory Inheritance Information List (issued free of charge by the Legal Affairs Bureau), as mentioned in a previous column, you can save the trouble of repeatedly presenting the bundle of family registers for procedures at banks, the Legal Affairs Bureau, and tax offices. Using this in conjunction with wide-area issuance will double the effectiveness.

Because it has become 'easier to obtain,' you can act sooner

Let's summarize the wide-area issuance of family registers.

From March 2024, it became possible to obtain copies of family registers, etc., at the nearest municipal office other than your registered domicile.
You can request everything from birth to death in one place, making the collection of family registers for inheritance dramatically easier.
However, only spouses and direct descendants can make the request (siblings and agents are not permitted).
Certificates of registered matters (fuhyo) and extracts of family registers are not eligible. For certificates of registered matters for inheritance registration, contact the registered domicile.
The individual must go to the counter with a photo ID. Also, anticipate the possibility of later issuance.

With the hurdles for collecting family registers lowered, it has become much easier to start both the 'initial steps of inheritance procedures' and 'confirming heirs while alive.' Let's make good use of the system and act early. If you are unsure about the steps for the procedures, we can organize the overall process together.

──────────────

[We accept free consultations via our official LINE account]

At Miyazaki Hinata Inheritance Consultation Office, we accept free consultations through our official LINE account.

・Organizing the steps and required documents for inheritance procedures ・How to proceed from collecting family registers to inheritance registration ・Consultations regarding family homes, vacant houses, and land utilization

After adding us as a friend, please feel free to use the "Free Consultation" option in the menu. We are here to help protect your family's future.

▶ Click here to add our official LINE account https://lin.ee/qcC7254

▶ Visit our website for details on services and fees https://hinata-souzoku-lab.com/