German inheritance does not mean getting the flat but becoming full legal successor: the deceased things and debts pass over at once. So the first decision is not settling the estate but accept or disclaim — hard-limited to 6 weeks. Miss it and you have accepted everything, including someone else loans.
Inheritance: Accept or Disclaim
In Germany the estate passes to you automatically with all its contents — assets AND debts. You can disclaim only within 6 weeks, otherwise the inheritance counts as accepted.
✓ Verified: 18/07/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Nachlassgericht (Amtsgericht)
Federal agencyCertificate of inheritance, opening of the will and disclaiming an inheritance all go through the Nachlassgericht (a division of the Amtsgericht) at the deceased's last place of residence.
Where to go in your city →› Details and tips
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Max recommends:
When a distant relative died, I first checked the debts, not the assets — there were more loans than value. I disclaimed in time and warned the others. Doing nothing would have cost me someone else debt.
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Lea recommends:
The 6 weeks run from learning of the inheritance and your entitlement, not from the day of death. But do not gamble on the start date: submit your decision as early as possible, reinstatement is rare.
Useful Tools
- Zentrales Testamentsregister legal-info
Central register of wills: where testamentary documents are registered and how the court locates them.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What happens if I just do nothing? ▾
Silence = acceptance. After 6 weeks the inheritance counts as accepted automatically, debts included. That is why doing nothing is the costliest mistake: first find out what is in the estate, then decide.
The estate is in debt — how do I protect myself? ▾
Disclaim within the 6-week period — then you inherit nothing, neither assets nor debts. The disclaimer passes to the next heirs, so warn relatives to disclaim too.
I do not know if there are debts — what to do? ▾
Do not delay: the law gives only 6 weeks. Request information (accounts, loans) and if in doubt either disclaim or accept with limited liability via estate insolvency / the insufficiency defence (settlement step).