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

Service
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.
Service
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.
Service
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.
Service
Collecting a single heir certificate
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.
Service
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.
Service
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...
Service
Fiscal inheritance
You have rejected your inheritance and there are no other heirs to take it? Then the state inherits.
Service
Granting 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.
Service
Granting 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.
Service
Granting a joint certificate of inheritance before or after 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. If there is a prior and subsequent inheritance, this is indicated on the certificate of inheritance.
Service
Granting a joint certificate of inheritance by reason of death
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.
Service
Granting a joint certificate of inheritance in the case 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.
Service
Granting a minimum joint certificate of inheritance
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.
Service
Granting a sole certificate of inheritance with limited objectivity
If you have decided to accept your inheritance, in many cases you will need proof of your inheritance rights. If you are the sole heir, this will be established in a certificate of inheritance. The certificate of inheritance may be restricted if parts of the estate are located abroad.
Service
Granting a sole heir certificate due to death
If you have decided to accept your inheritance, in many cases you will need proof of your inheritance rights. If you are designated as the sole heir in a will, this will be established in a certificate of inheritance.
Service
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.
Service
Inheritance contract Provision of information
Would you like to regulate your inheritance? Then drawing up an inheritance contract is a possible solution.
Service
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.
Service
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.
Service
Issue a joint certificate of partial inheritance for prior or subsequent heirs
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.
Service
Issue joint certificate of inheritance Disposition by reason of death
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.
Service
Issue joint certificate of inheritance limited to the subject matter
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.
Service
Issue joint certificate of partial inheritance limited in terms of subject matter
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.
Service
Joint certificate of inheritance issued by the previous or subsequent heir limited in terms of subject matter
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.
Service
Joint parts certificate issued on the basis of legal succession
The probate court may also issue a so-called joint certificate of partial inheritance for several heirs. Any co-inheritance may apply for a community share certificate.
Service
Keeping a will
Would you like your will to be kept safe? Then you can have it kept at the probate court.
Service
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.
Service
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.
Service
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.
Service
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.
Service
Ordering the guardianship of an 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.
Service
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.
Service
Submit a request to use archive material
If you would like to view or use archive material from different periods of German history in the Federal Archives, you will need an approved application for use.
Service
Waiving an inheritance
Do you want to waive your inheritance? Then you must declare this to the probate court in due form and time.
Service
Will Information
Would you like to settle your inheritance? Then drawing up a will is a possible solution.
Service
Withdraw your will
Would you like to have your stored will back? Then you can demand the surrender at the probate court.
Service
Withdrawing a joint certificate of inheritance
If it turns out in retrospect that the heirs shown in the certificate of inheritance are not the real heirs, the certificate of inheritance can be confiscated again.