🤝 Advice and contact points
In brief
In inheritance cases there are many deadlines. Get advice early, especially in cases of debts, disputes or a foreign element.
The probate court (Amtsgericht) accepts disclaimers, opens wills and issues certificates of inheritance.
Notaries advise on wills and contracts of inheritance and certify declarations. Lawyers, in particular specialist lawyers for inheritance law, advise in disputes.
The Verbraucherzentrale offers guides on inheritance, disclaiming, property and communities of heirs. If your income is low, legal advice assistance (Beratungshilfe) can reduce the costs.
Step by step
- Note the deadlineMark the six-week disclaiming deadline in your calendar.
- Choose the right bodyQuestions of form: probate court or notary. Disputes: lawyer. Overview: Verbraucherzentrale.
- Bring documentsDeath certificate, will, proof of assets and debts.
- If income is low, check legal advice assistanceFind out at the local court whether you are entitled.
Deadlines
- This Wegweiser does not replace legal advice.
- No local addresses or phone numbers are given here because they are not documented.
- Ask beforehand whether an advice centre covers inheritance law in your individual case.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Probate court
The probate court accepts disclaimers (§ 1945 BGB), issues the certificate of inheritance (§ 2353 BGB) and, where needed, secures the estate (§ 1960 BGB). Wills must be handed in there (§ 2259 BGB). The competent court is the local court in whose district the testator had their habitual residence at the time of death (§ 343 Abs. 1 bis 3 FamFG), alternatively the Amtsgericht Schöneberg.
Notary
Notaries notarise contracts of inheritance (§ 2276 BGB) and can certify disclaimers (§ 1945 BGB). The Federal Chamber of Notaries runs the Central Register of Wills (testamentsregister.de).
Verbraucherzentrale
On verbraucherzentrale.de the Verbraucherzentrale offers guides on disclaiming an inheritance, passing on and inheriting property, communities of heirs and wills. Whether local advice is offered in an individual case has not been checked.
Legal advice assistance
§ 8 BerHG: after approval, the adviser cannot claim remuneration from the person seeking advice, except for the advice assistance fee under § 44 RVG. The advice assistance fee is €15 (Nr. 2500 VV RVG); the adviser can waive it (§ 8 Abs. 2 BerHG, § 44 Satz 2 RVG). The conditions for approval are not checked here.
Legal profession
No checked sources are available here on finding a lawyer or on specialist-lawyer titles. Ask the competent bar association (Rechtsanwaltskammer).
A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.