The will or intestacy declaration, the death certificate, the estate inventory, the notarial or court documents naming beneficiaries and shares, the final estate accounting, the distribution record and the executor's contact details for a statement. Ask now; estate files are archived once closed.
Get the estate file before it is boxed
The executor and the notary or lawyer who handled the estate hold nearly everything the EB-5 file needs to prove an inheritance, and their willingness and ability to produce it declines with time. The list is specific: the will or, if there was none, the declaration of heirs; the death certificate; the inventory of the estate's assets with values; the documents from the court or notary establishing the beneficiaries and each one's share; the final accounting showing debts paid and the residue distributed; the record of the distribution to the investor with the date and amount; and any tax clearance obtained before distribution. For the decedent's own source of wealth, the executor may hold or be able to obtain his tax returns and the sale documents for any property or business.
A short signed statement from the executor describing the estate and confirming the distribution adds credibility. French-language documents require certified translations for USCIS, and the translator's certification must accompany each one. Request the full set in writing at the start of the process rather than piecemeal.