Property of a Deceased Member of a Mission

Subject(s):

Diplomatic immunity — Diplomatic missions — Diplomatic relations — Right to property

This chapter explores Article 39.4 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which deals with the handling of the property of a deceased member of a diplomatic mission. The Article states that in the event of the death of a member of the mission who is not a national of or permanently resident in the receiving State or a member of his family forming part of his household, the receiving State shall permit the withdrawal of the movable property of the deceased, with the exception of any property acquired in the country the export of which was prohibited at the time of his death. Estate, succession and inheritance duties shall not be levied on movable property the presence of which in the receiving State was due solely to the presence there of the deceased as a member of the mission or as a member of the family of a member of the mission.