Court Regulations
Source: BUS Rheinland-PfalzIn 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 this special inheritance law is to preserve agricultural holdings as a unit and to prevent fragmentation or over-indebtedness of the farms in inheritance. This special inheritance right only comes into effect if the holdings are registered in the so-called Höferolle on request. The special feature of the court regulations is that the farm is transferred undivided to an heir (heir to the court) in return for reduced compensation from the other heirs. If the farm is registered in the Höferolle, no will needs to be drawn up or a contract of inheritance concluded.
The Höferolle is managed at the land registry offices. A court committee is formed in each district. The Höfeausschuss is a committee of 5 people usually set up at the district administrations. If certain conditions are met, the farm is registered on the basis of an application by the owner to the land registry office to be directed via the farm committee.