More information about the project can be found here.

On 15 September 2025, ELI Fellows formally approved its Principles on the Extra-Judicial Administration of Justice in Cross-Border Family and Succession Matters, available here. 

The seven Principles, elaborated under the leadership of Project Reporters, Prof Dr Elena Bargelli, Prof Dr Anatol Dutta and Mr François Trémosa (public notary), are based on a comprehensive comparative analysis of national legal frameworks and practices. The research mapped out the various non-judicial bodies involved in family and succession matters across the EU and identified both the legal uncertainties and the innovations that have emerged from this trend. The core aim of the recommendations is to ensure that extra-judicial procedures in family and succession matters are applied in a coherent, rights-respecting, and effective manner in cross-border cases. Formulated as seven Principles, the recommendations offer a roadmap for updating EU private international law to reflect contemporary legal realities while upholding the Union’s core values.

For press inquiries and additional information, kindly contact the ELI Secretariat (secretariat@europeanlawinstitute.eu). The project’s Co-Reporters are also available for interviews and further clarifications.