Since January 1st, 2017, last wills are automatically repealed by dissolution of marriage, registered partnership or life partnership during the testator´s life, which would have benefitted a former spouse, registered partner or life companion. If the testator desires the last will to remain valid despite a legal divorce, he/she must order that – for example...Continue Reading

Generally, the legal share becomes due with the testator´s death, however it can only be claimed one year after his/her death. Furthermore, by order of the testator (or by heirs´ claim), the legal share can be deferred for the duration of five years or an instalment payment can be agreed on, in order to prevent...Continue Reading

With the inheritance law reform „Inheritance law new”, a legal “exceptional inheritance law” for the life partner has been introduced for the first time. This only becomes effective if no legal heir is entitled and the life partner lived in the same household for at least the three years before his/her death. If there was...Continue Reading

Generally, only close relatives are entitled to a nursing legacy. This entitlement exists if the person cared for the deceased person to a greater extent at least six months before his/her death. Should the caring relative have already received grants from the inheritance in order to compensate these services, or if he/she has received a...Continue Reading

Both for the testament written by yourself as well as for the testament written by someone else there are formal requirements which have to be fulfilled by all means in order to make the testament valid. In the self-written last will it is necessary that the testator writes the entire text him/herself and signs the...Continue Reading