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A will in Bali is a notarial deed made before an Indonesian notary, in Bahasa Indonesia, that says who receives your Indonesian assets. Foreigners are often surprised to learn that a will made at home may not be enough for property here. Indonesian inheritance law can apply to Indonesian assets, and an unrecognised will leaves your heirs with delays and disputes at the worst possible time.
Fees: a notarial will is quoted before drafting, with the notary's fee and Rp 10,000 stamp duty per document. See notary fees in Bali.
Is a foreign will enough for property in Bali?
Indonesia has three inheritance systems: civil law, religious law and customary (adat) law. Foreigners generally fall under civil inheritance law, but which rules apply can depend on whether the asset is land or money, and on who the heirs are. A foreign will may not be enforceable here without more steps. The safer approach is a will in your home country for assets there, and a separate Indonesian will for assets here.
What happens to each kind of property on death?
Hak Pakai. It can pass to an heir who also qualifies for Hak Pakai, with approval from the land office. If the heir does not qualify, the property may have to be sold.
A lease. A villa or land lease can pass to your heirs if the lease allows it to be assigned on death. Many leases are silent on this, so check yours. See lease agreements.
Shares in a PT PMA. They pass under your will or succession law, which brings in company procedures too. See company deeds.
Freehold held by an Indonesian spouse. In a mixed marriage, the separation of property in a prenup or postnup shapes what forms part of an estate.
Freehold inherited by someone who cannot hold it. That heir has one year to sell or transfer it.
How is a notarial will (surat wasiat) made in Bali?
- List your Indonesian assets and how each is held: certificate, lease, shares, accounts.
- Name your heirs clearly, with their nationality, which matters for land.
- Draft the will in Bahasa Indonesia, with an English translation so you know exactly what it says.
- Sign before the notary, who records it as a notarial deed.
- Register it where needed. Registration with the district court may be required to avoid any doubt.
Why plan the ownership structure as well as the will?
A will cannot give an heir a title the law does not allow them to hold. If your heirs are foreign, or minors, the way you hold the property today decides what they can receive. Buying property in Bali compares the options. The first consultation is free, and that is the right moment to raise inheritance, before the deed is signed.
