Contract of inheritance
Compulsory portion and disinheritance - your most important questions and answers
Anyone who learns after a death that they have not been included in the will is often in shock. The first reaction is usually uncertainty: does disinheritance really mean that you will go away empty-handed? According to German inheritance law, this is not necessarily the case....
The compulsory portion for children as a statutory minimum entitlement
When a parent passes away, stressful questions about the estate often come to the fore alongside the grief. The situation becomes particularly difficult for children if a will or inheritance contract does not take sufficient account of them or even completely ignores them. In these cases...
Waiving the inheritance - how & when you can still receive your compulsory portion
A death often brings not only grief, but also difficult decisions. Anyone who does not wish to accept the estate of a relative may consider whether the statutory compulsory portion can still be secured. As a rule, disclaiming an inheritance...
How high is my compulsory portion? - Free calculator, information and tips on how to successfully enforce your inheritance claim
The so-called compulsory portion is a fundamental element of German inheritance law. It ensures that close relatives of the deceased, the legal heirs, cannot be completely excluded from the succession. The compulsory portion is calculated as a certain percentage of the value of the estate,...
How litigation funding works: a guide on how to obtain justice without the risk of costs
Anyone who bequeaths in Deutschland or Schweiz cannot bypass their relatives completely. The right to a compulsory portion obliges the testator to pay out a minimum share to a narrow circle of people. Children, spouses or registered partners are thus also reliably protected in 2025, albeit with varying degrees of...
Advantages of establishing a family foundation: How you can protect your assets in the long term
The family foundation is a unique instrument for preserving and managing wealth across generations. It not only provides a framework for the preservation of family wealth, but also a platform to promote cohesion and values within a family.
Execution of a will - An overview of the role and duties of an executor
The executor plays a central role in inheritance law by administering the entire estate in accordance with the wishes of the testator. This person has the special responsibility of taking possession of the estate, disposing of estate items and organising the settlement of the estate.
Berlin will - information, special features and effects on inheritance and children
The Berlin will is a popular option for married couples to organise their testamentary affairs jointly. It allows both partners to appoint the other as their sole heir and determines what should happen to their assets after the death of both spouses....
Claiming and asserting a compulsory portion - how it works and what you should bear in mind
The compulsory portion ensures that close relatives - such as children, spouses or registered partners - receive a statutory minimum share of the estate. This entitlement always applies if they have been disinherited by a will or inheritance contract or if their intended share is less than the...
Inheritance contract & compulsory portion: A detailed analysis for heirs and testators
An inheritance contract allows testators to distribute their assets according to their wishes and designate certain persons as heirs. Nevertheless, close relatives who may be excluded from the inheritance by this contract have a legal claim to their compulsory portion. This mechanism...