Acceptance of inheritance (Erbschaftsannahme)
German law assumes there is acceptance of an inheritance unless it is renounced properly and timely. The heirs are responsible for determining whether an inheritance is worth accepting.Certain acts (e.g. disposition of estate assets or application for a certificate of inheritance) may imply acceptance even before the disclaimer period expires. An inheritance may only be accepted or disclaimed in its entirety. Once an inheritance is accepted it can no longer be renounced. However, the heir may later revoke the acceptance if he can prove that he was unaware of estate debts and in view of these unknown estate debts the estate is insolvent.