Writing a Will in Germany: Inheritance Law, Pflichtteil, and Berliner Testament

German inheritance law is governed by the Civil Code (BGB). Anyone who wants to control their estate needs a valid will. This guide covers the main will formats, the compulsory share (Pflichtteil), and the popular Berliner Testament.

Handwritten Will (§ 2247 BGB)

A handwritten will must be written entirely by hand — no printouts, no typewriter.

Validity Requirements

Requirement	Details
Handwriting	Entire text written by hand
Signature	First and last name at end
Date	Place and date included
Testamentary capacity	From age 16 (notarized) or 18 (handwritten)

Notarized Will

A will notarized at a Notar is authenticated and deposited at the local court. Benefits: legal certainty, automatic registration, often no certificate of inheritance needed. Cost depends on estate value (e.g., ~500 EUR for 200,000 EUR estate).

The Pflichtteil (Compulsory Share)

The Pflichtteil is 50% of the statutory inheritance share. Entitled: children, spouse, parents (if no children). Disinheritance is possible, but the Pflichtteil remains. Removal is only possible in extreme cases (e.g., attempted murder).

The Berliner Testament

Spouses name each other as sole heirs. Children inherit only after the death of the surviving spouse (final heirs). A penalty clause is common: if a child claims the Pflichtteil after the first parent's death, they are limited to the Pflichtteil upon the second death as well.

Securely Storing Your Will

Official Deposit

Handwritten wills can be deposited at the local court for official safekeeping (75 EUR). The will is registered in the Central Register of Wills.

Digital Supplement

Beyond official storage, inform trusted persons about your will's existence. With LOCK.PUB, create a password-protected memo with storage location details — share the password via iMessage through a separate channel.

Common Will Mistakes

Mistake	Consequence
Typed on computer	Will is invalid
No signature	Will is invalid
Ambiguous wording	Disputes among heirs
No date	Validity questionable

Inheritance Tax Exemptions

Relationship	Tax-Free Amount
Spouse	500,000 EUR
Child	400,000 EUR
Grandchild	200,000 EUR
Siblings	20,000 EUR

Conclusion

A will gives you control over your estate. Follow the formal requirements — especially complete handwriting for holographic wills. Consult a Notar if in doubt, and store your will securely.

Use LOCK.PUB to inform trusted persons about your will with password protection — secure, confidential, and accessible when needed.