Apply for a certificate of inheritance
An official document that certifies one's status as an heir to banks, the land registry, and government agencies.
Wo wohnen Sie?
Damit wir Apply for a certificate of inheritance mit dem zuständigen Nachlassgericht in Ihrer Stadt anzeigen können.
Oder Großstadt wählen:
Sie werden zur geführten Suche weitergeleitet – mit Kontaktdaten, Termin und nächsten Schritten für Apply for a certificate of inheritance.
Quick answer
- 1
Documents you need
Death certificate · Birth certificates of the heirs
- 2
Responsible authority
The authority of your main residence
- 3
How to do it
In person or by post at the office
- 4
Costs
10–80 € je nach Urkunde/Verfahren
How to proceed
- 1
File a petition with the probate court
In person or through a notary, with an affidavit regarding the succession.
- 2
Provide documentation
Death certificate, birth certificates, and, if applicable, a will or inheritance agreement.
- 3
A certificate of inheritance is issued
Fees are based on the value of the estate.
Responsible authority
The authority of your main place of residence is responsible.Find authority →
The essentials before applying
Who is eligible?
Heirs who must prove their status as heirs, unless a notarized will accompanied by a probate record is sufficient.
Income limit
Processing time
Nationwide: approx. approx. 2 months
Success rate
approx. 90.0 % (estimate)
Most common mistakes
- •Affidavit regarding succession is incorrect
- •Not all heirs/legal heirs have been identified
Common reasons for rejection
- •Line of succession not clearly established
- •Objections from other claimants to the inheritance
Alternatives
- Check related services in the application assistant
- Use social counselling before applying
If rejected
File a written objection within 30 days – with reasons why the decision is wrong and any missing evidence.
Questions & Answers
How much does a certificate of inheritance cost?▼
The fees are based on the value of the estate (Court and Notary Fees Act)—the higher the value of the estate, the higher the fee.
Freshness & source
- Maintenance
- Continuously reviewed & updated
- Source
- Bundesamt für Justiz
- Data quality
- 100 %