Inheritance, estates and wills

Those who put their estate in order while they are alive spare their loved ones a number of issues in the case of their death and reduce the formalities that survivors will have to deal with at a difficult time of grieving. Here you will find information and contacts at public authorities regarding inheritance, wills and estates.

Services in Inheritance, estates and wills

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Apply for green gun ownership card as heir
If you have inherited weapons and/or ammunition, you must apply for a permit for continued possession of the weapons from the relevant weapons authority within one month.
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Apply for guardianship of the estate
It is not uncommon for someone to die without leaving a will or without any known relatives.

If the estate consists of more assets than liabilities, the probate court appoints a guardian of the estate.
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Applying for a certificate of sole inheritance due to legal succession
If you are the sole heir according to statutory succession, you can apply to the probate court for a sole heir certificate to prove your status as an heir.
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Applying for a certificate of sole inheritance on the basis of a will
If you have accepted your inheritance, you will often need proof of your status as an heir. If you are the sole heir according to a will or inheritance contract, you can apply for a sole heir certificate.
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Applying for a community minimum sharing certificate
The probate court can also issue a so-called joint minimum certificate of inheritance for several heirs. Each co-heir can apply for a joint minimum certificate of inheritance.
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Applying for a joint certificate of inheritance
The probate court can issue a so-called joint certificate of inheritance for several heirs. Each co-heir can apply for a joint certificate of inheritance.
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Applying for a joint certificate of inheritance
The probate court can also issue a so-called joint certificate of inheritance for several heirs. Each co-heir can apply for a joint certificate of inheritance.
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Applying for a joint certificate of inheritance according to intestate succession
The probate court can also issue a so-called joint certificate of inheritance for several heirs. Each co-heir can apply for a joint certificate of inheritance.
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Applying for a joint certificate of inheritance as a prior or subsequent heir
The probate court can also issue a so-called joint certificate of inheritance for several heirs. Each co-heir can apply for a joint certificate of inheritance. If there is a prior and subsequent inheritance, this is indicated on the certificate of inheritance.
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Applying for a joint certificate of inheritance as a prior or subsequent heir
The probate court can also issue a so-called joint certificate of inheritance for several heirs. Each co-heir can apply for a joint certificate of inheritance. If there is a prior and subsequent inheritance, this is indicated on the certificate of inheritance.
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Applying for a joint certificate of inheritance on the basis of a will
The probate court can also issue a so-called joint certificate of inheritance for several testamentary heirs. Each co-heir can apply for a joint certificate of inheritance.
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Applying for a joint certificate of inheritance on the basis of a will
The probate court can also issue a so-called joint certificate of inheritance for several heirs. Each testamentary co-heir can apply for a joint certificate of inheritance.
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Applying for a joint certificate of inheritance on the basis of intestate succession
The probate court can also issue a so-called joint certificate of inheritance for several heirs. Each co-heir can apply for a joint certificate of inheritance.
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Applying for a limited joint certificate of inheritance
The probate court can also issue a so-called joint certificate of inheritance for several heirs. Each co-heir can apply for a joint certificate of inheritance. This can be restricted in terms of subject matter if parts of the estate are located abroad.
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Applying for a limited joint certificate of inheritance
The probate court can also issue a so-called joint certificate of inheritance for several heirs. Each co-heir can apply for a joint certificate of inheritance. This can be restricted in terms of subject matter if parts of the estate are located abroad.
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Applying for a limited joint certificate of inheritance as a prior or subsequent heir
A joint certificate of inheritance can be issued for several heirs. Each co-heir can apply for a joint certificate of inheritance. It shows whether there is a prior and subsequent inheritance. If parts of the estate are located abroad, it can be restricted in terms of subject matter.
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Applying for a permit to possess weapons when inheriting a weapons or ammunition collection
If you wish to acquire and keep a collection of weapons or ammunition as a result of an inheritance, you must apply for a permit to continue the collection.
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Applying for a restricted certificate of sole inheritance
If you are the sole heir, you will often need a certificate of inheritance as proof of your inheritance rights. You can have this restricted to the estate in Germany if the estate is located both in Germany and abroad.
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Community certificate of inheritance Issue of partial certificate of pre- or post-inheritance limited
For several heirs, a joint share certificate can also be issued, each co-heir can apply for one. If there is a pre- and post-inheritance, the certificate of inheritance indicates this. It can be restricted if parts of the estate are located abroad.
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Court Regulations
In addition to the general inheritance law, which is anchored in the BGB, there is a special agricultural inheritance law in Rhineland-Palatinate with the Höfeordnung. The aim of...
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Fiscal inheritance
You have rejected your inheritance and there are no other heirs to take it? Then the state inherits.
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Health care proxy
With a health care proxy, you can transfer the management of some or all of your affairs to another person in the event that you lose the ability to make decisions yourself.
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Inheritance contract Provision of information
Would you like to regulate your inheritance? Then drawing up an inheritance contract is a possible solution.
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Inheritance rights and obligations in another Member State
You can find more detailed information about inheritance rights and obligations in another Member State here.
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Inheritance tax Disclosure obligations of third parties
This entry provides you with information on the notification obligations of third parties, i.e. persons/companies not belonging to the group of acquirers in inheritance cases.
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Inheritance tax notification and declaration obligation
This entry explains when there is an obligation to report the acquisition or to submit an inheritance tax return.
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Living will
In a living will, you can declare whether you want certain treatment in the event of illness or an accident, and in particular whether you want sufficient pain relief or the use of life-prolonging measures.
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Make an emergency will
If it is no longer possible to go to a notary to draw up a will, a provisionally valid emergency will can be drawn up.
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Making a public will
Would you like to have your will drawn up by a notary? Then there is talk of a so-called public will.
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Notarize the waiver of inheritance
If you do not wish to accept an inheritance, you must declare the renunciation of the inheritance to a notary, have it notarized and submit it to the probate court.
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Registering health care proxies and advance care directives in the central register of health care proxies
If you have set up a power of attorney and/or a care directive, you should register it in the Central Register of Lasting Powers of Attorney of the Federal Chamber of Notaries.
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Requesting the return of an officially deposited disposition of property upon death (e.g. will)
Would you like to have your stored will back? Then you can demand the surrender at the probate court.
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Special official custody of a disposition of property upon death (e.g. will)
Would you like your will to be kept safe? Then you can have it kept at the probate court.
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Waiving an inheritance
Do you want to waive your inheritance? Then you must declare this to the probate court in due form and time.
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Will Information
Would you like to settle your inheritance? Then drawing up a will is a possible solution.
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Withdrawal of a joint certificate of inheritance
If it subsequently transpires that the heirs listed on the certificate of inheritance are not the real heirs, the certificate of inheritance can be revoked.
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Withdrawal of a sole heir certificate
If it subsequently transpires that the heir named in the certificate of inheritance is not the real heir, the certificate of inheritance can be revoked.
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