Basics of wills

What is the purpose of a will and how can it be drafted?

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In a legal tip from TV-Mittelrhein, Lawyer Jonathan Stasche gives a quick overview of the most important information on the subject of wills. The following points are covered:

• The importance of a will: It ensures the testator's will and avoids unwanted succession, whereby it is often mistakenly assumed that the spouse automatically becomes the sole heir.
• Options: There are individual wills, inheritance contracts and joint wills for spouses, each with different binding effects and revocation options.
• Effective execution of a will: A will must be written and signed by the testator in their own hand, including the place and date. Notarial wills are also possible.
• Contents of a will: Designation of heirs, disinheritance, substitute inheritance, provisional and reversionary inheritance, bequests, division orders and choice of law for assets held abroad or for other citizenships.
• Execution of wills: In the case of heirs who are minors, the execution of a will can be ordered in order to precisely implement the will of the testator and to avoid disputes.

The statements represent initial information that was current for the law applicable in Germany at the time of initial publication. The legal situation may have changed since then. Furthermore, the information provided cannot replace individual advice on a specific matter. Please contact us for this purpose.