The State will pay 10% of heirless inheritances to the claimants

The State keeps inheritances without heirs, but rewards those who report them. If you are not a legal representative, you can receive 10% of the value. An incentive that few know about, but which moves money and reports.

This measure is regulated by Royal Decree 1373/2009 and the Civil Code, which establish how to act in the event of the death of a person without legitimate heirs. The system not only seeks to avoid lost heritage but also focuses on alert citizens.

The State and the reward for reporting inheritances without heirs

What does the law say and who can report?

Royal Decree 1373/2009 establishes that any citizen who has knowledge of a deceased person without legitimate heirs can file a direct report to the Delegation of Economy and Finance where the deceased had their last residence.

This report must be in writing and provide all possible information to verify the case. But not everyone can play the reporting game: civil servants, public employees, workers of residences, or administrators who already have this information through their work cannot claim the reward.

The reward: what’s in the pocket?

If the report is accurate and the inheritance ends up passing to the State, the reporter receives 10% of the proportional part of the assets they provided, either in cash or in settled value.

It is a direct incentive to prevent valuable heritage from being abandoned or disappearing into the system without control. Thus, citizens play a key role in this process, beyond a simple passive function.

How the Civil Code supports the State’s claim to these inheritances

The legal framework of the Civil Code

Article 956 of the Civil Code makes it clear that when there are no persons entitled to inherit, the State keeps all the assets, which ultimately go to the Public Treasury.

The law also establishes that two-thirds of the inherited estate are allocated to social interest purposes, making these assets a source of resources for public projects.

Practical applications and exceptions

In some cases, the Council of Ministers may decide to give another use to the inherited assets, especially if they have a special nature. But, in general, the rule is clear: heritage without heirs, heritage for the State.

This regulation prevents valuable heritage from being lost or subject to opaque management.

Exclusions and obligations of legal representatives

Who does not receive payment and why?

Legal representatives, such as relatives or administrators of the deceased, cannot receive this 10% because they have the obligation to communicate the inheritance to possible legitimate heirs.

This also includes workers of residences or centers where the deceased lived; their proximity makes them part of the legal process, not rewarded reporters.

Obligation to communicate intestate inheritances

Legal representatives are not only excluded from the reward but also have an active duty: to inform the situation to the legitimate heirs or, in their absence, facilitate that the State can manage the inheritance.

Therefore, it is not only about protecting public heritage but also about avoiding abuses or negligence in the management of these inheritances.

The system puts money on the table to encourage ordinary citizens to be the eyes and ears that the administration does not always have. But, at the same time, it sets limits so that it does not become a business for those already involved.

It’s not a jackpot, but neither is staying empty-handed if you have to play detective a bad deal. And now that you know it exists, you might wonder how many inheritances are sleeping in the shadows, waiting for someone to make them ring.