Representation in contentious probate matters in Germany

Services

We represent German and foreign beneficiaries as well as executors and trustees in contentious probate and trust matters in Germany. Our services include in particular

• Representation in contentious proceedings concerning the granting of a  German certificate of inheritance (Erbschein), German certificate executorship (Testamentsvollstreckerzeugnis) or European Certificate of Succession (Europäisches Nachlasszeugnis);
• Expert opinions on German or foreign inheritance law, e.g. on statutory succession or validity as regards to form of a foreign Will in Germany;
• Expert opinions on the applicable inheritance law (private international law, conflict of laws);
• Action for payment of the compulsory portion/forced share (Pflichtteil) and/or supplementary claim to the compulsory portion ("clawback");
• Will contest, e.g. on the grounds of undue influence (Sittenwidrigkeit) or mental incapacity to make a Will (Testierunfähigkeit);
• Action for restitution after contesting a Will (Testament);
• Action for determination of the heir (Erbe) or the co-heirs (Miterben);
• Action for determination of unworthiness to inherit (Erbunwürdigkeit);
• Action for distribution of an interest in an estate or trust;
• Recognition of foreign judgements in Germany;
• Dissolution of community of co-heirs (Erbengemeinschaft);
• Dismissal/removal of a German executor (Testamentsvollstrecker);
• Injunctions (einsweilige Verfügungen).

Many of our proceedings relate to foreign countries, in particular Spain, the USA, Canada, England, Australia and New Zealand. Please also refer to the separate presentations.

In cases involving foreign countries, we coordinate with our clients' foreign lawyers, especially if proceedings are already pending abroad or if it could be advantageous to file a lawsuit in a foreign court (forum shopping).

Representation throughout Germany

We represent clients in courts throughout Germany (but not at the BGH). In the case of representation in a probate court (responsible e.g. for certificate of inheritance proceedings), a trip to the place of jurisdiction will generally not be necessary, as correspondence in probate matters is usually exclusively electronic/postal and a personal appearance at the place of jurisdiction is almost never necessary. In proceedings in a district court (first instance in ZPO proceedings) or Court of Appeal  (appeal proceedings, appeals against decisions of the probate court), it will often be necessary to travel to the hearing. Due to our special expertise in international inheritance cases, courts have repeatedly ruled that our travel costs are reimbursable costs.

In-Person Consultation and Remote Consultation

We provide In-Person consultation in Berlin and Munich.

Otherwise, we provide advice via remote communication (Zoom, telephone, e-mail). 

Representation throughout Germany

We represent clients in contentous probate and trust matters in all district courts (Landgerichte) and courts of appeal (Berufungsgericht, Oberlandesgericht, Kammergericht) in Germany. Due to our special expertise in international inheritance cases, German courts have repeatedly ruled that our travel costs are reimbursable costs.

District Courts in Germany 

Landgericht Aachen, Landgericht Amberg, Landgericht Ansbach, Landgericht Arnsberg, Landgericht Aschaffenburg, Landgericht Augsburg, Landgericht Aurich, Landgericht Bad Kreuznach, Landgericht Baden-Baden, Landgericht Bamberg, Landgericht Bautzen, Landgericht Bayreuth, Landgericht Berlin, Landgericht Bielefeld, Landgericht Bochum, Landgericht Bonn, Landgericht Braunschweig, Landgericht Bremen, Landgericht Bückeburg, Landgericht Chemnitz, Landgericht Coburg, Landgericht Cottbus, Landgericht Darmstadt, Landgericht Deggendorf, Landgericht Dessau-Roßlau, Landgericht Detmold, Landgericht Dortmund, Landgericht Dresden, Landgericht Duisburg, Landgericht Düsseldorf, Landgericht Ellwangen (Jagst), Landgericht Erfurt, Landgericht Essen, Landgericht Flensburg, Landgericht Frankenthal (Pfalz), Landgericht Frankfurt (Oder), Landgericht Frankfurt am Main, Landgericht Freiburg im Breisgau, Landgericht Fulda, Landgericht Gera, Landgericht Gießen, Landgericht Görlitz, Landgericht Göttingen, Landgericht Hagen, Landgericht Halle, Landgericht Hamburg, Landgericht Hanau, Landgericht Hannover, Landgericht Hechingen, Landgericht Heidelberg, Landgericht Heilbronn, Landgericht Hildesheim, Landgericht Hof/ Saale, Landgericht Ingolstadt, Landgericht Itzehoe, Landgericht Kaiserslautern, Landgericht Karlsruhe, Landgericht Kassel, Landgericht Kempten (Allgäu), Landgericht Kiel, Landgericht Kleve, Landgericht Koblenz, Landgericht Köln, Landgericht Konstanz, Landgericht Krefeld, Landgericht Landau i.d. Pfalz, Landgericht Landshut, Landgericht Leipzig, Landgericht Limburg a.d. Lahn, Landgericht Lübeck, Landgericht Lüneburg, Landgericht Magdeburg, Landgericht Mainz, Landgericht Mannheim, Landgericht Marburg, Landgericht Meiningen, Landgericht Memmingen, Landgericht Mönchengladbach, Landgericht Mosbach, Landgericht Mühlhausen, Landgericht München I, Landgericht München II, Landgericht Münster, Landgericht Neubrandenburg, Landgericht Neuruppin, Landgericht Nürnberg-Fürth, Landgericht Offenburg, Landgericht Oldenburg, Landgericht Osnabrück, Landgericht Paderborn, Landgericht Passau, Landgericht Potsdam, Landgericht Ravensburg, Landgericht Regensburg, Landgericht Rostock, Landgericht Rottweil, Landgericht Saarbrücken, Landgericht Schweinfurt, Landgericht Schwerin, Landgericht Siegen, Landgericht Stade, Landgericht Stendal, Landgericht Stralsund, Landgericht Stuttgart, Landgericht Traunstein, Landgericht Trier, Landgericht Tübingen, Landgericht Ulm, Landgericht Verden (Aller), Landgericht Waldshut-Tiengen, Landgericht Weiden i.d.OPf., Landgericht Wiesbaden, Landgericht Wuppertal, Landgericht Würzburg, Landgericht Zweibrücken, Landgericht Zwickau.