Loaned assistive devices in a deceased estate

Loaned assistive devices in a deceased estate must be distinguished from household contents owned by the deceased. NAV states that devices it lends remain the property of the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration and must be returned when no longer needed. Do not include a confirmed loaned device in an ordinary household sale or gift.

Establish ownership and return arrangements

Look for loan documents, labels and information about the supplying organisation. For estates containing NAV devices, NAV advises contacting the municipality to arrange collection and return to its assistive technology centre. This guidance concerns Norway and was checked on 1 November 2026.

Appearance alone does not establish ownership. As a practical example, a chair or wheelchair may have been purchased privately or supplied under a loan scheme. Mark uncertain ownership in the inventory and postpone offering the item for sale until clarified.

Permanently installed equipment

Fixed assistive devices require separate planning. NAV describes technical assessment and cooperation with the municipality over removal. After a move or death, the municipality may in some cases apply to transfer installed equipment to a new user. This does not mean heirs can freely transfer it themselves.

Agree whom to contact, what should remain pending collection and the timing of any removal before clearing the home. Do not remove identification labels or mix accessories with unrelated contents. Keep the return list separate from the household contents and movable property being assessed for sale.

Next step: Disclose loaned and installed equipment when arranging an OBA estate site visit. Return and removal of NAV equipment are clarified with the municipality and NAV, while the remaining clearance work is agreed separately.

Sources: NAV on ownership, estates and returns and NAV on returns and installed assistive devices.