Probate Records (Nachlassakte)
Probate records in Germany are kept with the local probate court (Nachlassgericht), which is the local court at the place of the last residence of the deceased. Probate records in Germany are not public and anybody who requests information from the German probate court will have to proove a lawful interest (e.g. potential heir or forced heir). See § 13 para 2 FamFG. Probate records include various types of documents and files. Typically, the probate records include an estate inventory (Nachlassverzeichnis), the original will and/or inheritance contracts, application documents and (after issuance) original copies of the certificate of inheritance (Erbschein) and/or certificate of executorship (Testamentsvollstreckerzeugnis).