What exactly is a Denunzia Della Successione?

[ms.smith]

I am delighted to have been sent one of these documents dated 1887. I have been trying to discover a last will and testament for the deceased person but was told there is no record of a will in the record office of Milan. He lived in Milan. However they were able to send me this Denunzia Della Successione. It is obviously a statement of the value of his Estate. I think he was fairly well off. I feel he must have left a will as he was a widower with two teenage children whose mother had died when they were very young. Should this document help in tracking down his will. Can someone explain the difference between a will and the document I have just received?
Thanks!

[liviomoreno]

If you are a heir of a person who died, you have to present to the Tax office a Denuncia di Sucessione which is a list of the goods that you are inhering and their value.

[ms.smith]

Thank you for your reply.

Can you tell me, would there have to be a "Last Will and Testament" in order for someone to obtain a Denuncia di Successione? If the surviving next of kin were a son and daughter, would they automatically inherit their father's Estate without him leaving a Will?

Any suggestions on how a Will might be tracked down?

[liviomoreno]

Thank you for your reply.

Can you tell me, would there have to be a "Last Will and Testament" in order for someone to obtain a Denuncia di Successione? No. If the surviving next of kin were a son and daughter, would they automatically inherit their father's Estate without him leaving a Will? Yes. By law, they would inherit (together with their mother) at least 1/3 of the properties even in presence of a Will that says they are disinherited.

Any suggestions on how a Will might be tracked down? I have no idea