In short
We're sorry for your loss. After a death, you register it with the civil registry, then two adouls draw up the inheritance deed (iratha) that establishes who the heirs are. If there is titled property, the inheritance is recorded at the land registry.
The papers you'll most often be asked for
Step by step
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Death certificate and registration
Hospital, then the civil registry office
The hospital issues the death certificate free of charge. The death is then registered with the civil registry within 30 days (one year abroad). More in civil status in Morocco.
0 to 30 days Source
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The inheritance deed from two adouls
Adouls covering the deceased's home or the property's location
The adouls (notary-witnesses for family deeds) draw up the inheritance deed, which records the death and the number of heirs, and the deed fixing the shares (farida). The notarial judge approves them. Official fee: 400 MAD for the inheritance deed and 300 MAD for the farida. Every heir is entitled to a copy (article 394).
400 to 700 MAD Source
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Inventory and protecting the estate, if needed
Adouls, and the court where needed
Anyone with an interest can ask the court for urgent measures to protect the estate (articles 373 and 374). Two adouls draw up the inventory (article 377), at a percentage fee (2% up to 25,000 MAD, then 1%, then 0.5%). Before the estate is settled, no heir may sell or collect a debt without authorisation (article 376).
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Tax registration
Registration office (DGI)
Adoul deeds are registered within 30 days. The post-death inventory is taxed at 1%, excluding the deceased's main home and furniture (General Tax Code, articles 131 and 133). A partition between heirs is taxed at 1.5%.
0 to 30 days Source
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Land registry
Land registry office where the property is
For titled property, the inheritance is recorded on each land title: 100 MAD per property. If you later divide the property, the partition costs 500 MAD per property if recorded within two years of the death, and 1.5% after that.
100 MAD Source
The official route
Adouls, the tax office and the land registry
The official route: two adouls and the notarial judge of the court of first instance, the tax registration office, and the land registry. Abroad: the consulate.
The people who can help
See them all on Hdaya
Do you work in this field? People in your city read this guide.
Add your profileInheritance deed: avoiding wasted trips
- Gather the papers for all the heirs in one go before you see the adoul.
- If an heir lives abroad, ask them to start the power of attorney at the consulate early.
- Keep several copies of the inheritance deed and the farida: more than one office will ask for them.
- Ask the adoul for the full cost up front, travel included.
About the shares
The shares are set by the farida that the adouls draw up. We don't calculate shares here: every case has its own details (the obligatory bequest for grandchildren, an heir who is a minor, a missing person...). A lawyer or an adoul can explain your situation.
What does it cost?
The amounts quoted are the official adoul fee scale (decree 2.08.378) and the duties published by the tax office and the land registry. Adoul travel (50 or 100 MAD per half-day) and survey costs come on top.
If you'd like an adoul or a lawyer in your city to walk you through it calmly, you can find one on Hdaya.
Questions people ask
How much do adouls charge for the inheritance deed?
The official fee is 400 MAD for the inheritance deed and 300 MAD for the farida, plus travel (decree 2.08.378).
Can an heir sell or collect money before the estate is divided?
No. No heir may manage the assets or collect debts before the estate is settled without the liquidator's or the court's authorisation, except in absolute necessity (article 376).
I live abroad. How can I take part in the inheritance?
Sign an adoul power of attorney for the partition at the consulate: 200 MAD consular fee plus 20 MAD service fee, 60 days. You need your national ID card, proof of residence abroad and your representative's ID card.
Does our parents' home count towards the inventory duty?
No. The 1% duty on the inventory excludes the deceased's main home and furniture (General Tax Code, article 131).
Official sources
- مدونة الأسرة (المواد 373 حتى 395) — وزارة العدل
- المرسوم 2.08.378 بتطبيق القانون 16.03 المتعلق بخطة العدالة (تعريفة أجور العدول)
- Code général des impôts 2026 — DGI
- ANCFCC — Tarif des droits de conservation foncière
- المرسوم 2.22.04 بتطبيق قانون الحالة المدنية 36.21
Procedures change. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will check it again.