Inheritance law - Apply for safekeeping of wills and inheritance contracts (Erbverträge)

• Notarial (public) will (notarielles Testament) www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__2232.html Notarial wills are deposited directly by the certifying notary with the probate court (Nachlassgericht) for special official safekeeping. • Holographic will (eigenhändiges Testament, i.e. handwritten will) www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__2247.html You may choose the place of safekeeping for your holographic will, handwritten and signed by yourself. To ensure it can be found, you may also choose special official safekeeping with a probate court (Nachlassgericht). • Inheritance contract (Erbvertrag) www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__2276.html Inheritance contracts may be placed in special official safekeeping or kept by the notary.

• Handschriftliches Testament (handwritten will) In Germany, a will can be deposited with the Nachlassgericht (probate court, at the Amtsgericht [local court]), which guarantees it will be properly opened in the event of death. You must hand in the will in person (or through an authorized representative) at the court. • Personalausweis (identity card)/passport • Geburtsurkunde (birth certificate) The Verwahrgericht (court holding the will in safekeeping) is required to have your will / inheritance contract (Erbvertrag) recorded in the Zentrales Testamentsregister (Central Register of Wills) held by the Bundesnotarkammer (Federal Chamber of Notaries). Details from the birth certificate are needed for the registration. • You will be issued a Hinterlegungsschein (deposit certificate) confirming the safekeeping. If you deposit a joint will (gemeinschaftliches Testament), each person receives a Hinterlegungsschein.

• 82.00 euros for the official safekeeping of the will (letztwillige Verfügung) at the Nachlassgericht (probate court) (KV12100 under the GNotKG) • further fees for registration in the Zentrales Testamentsregister (ZTR, Central Register of Wills)

• Gesetz über das Verfahren in Familiensachen und in den Angelegenheiten der freiwilligen Gerichtsbarkeit (FamFG) [Act on Proceedings in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-Contentious Jurisdiction] § 346 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/famfg/__346.html • Gesetz über das Verfahren in Familiensachen und in den Angelegenheiten der freiwilligen Gerichtsbarkeit (FamFG) § 347 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/famfg/__347.html • Gerichts- und Notarkostengesetz (GNotKG) [Court and Notary Costs Act] Annex 1 (to § 3(2)), Schedule of Fees No. 12100 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gnotkg/anlage_1.html • Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) [German Civil Code] § 2248 - Safekeeping of a handwritten will www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__2248.html

• Central Register of Wills (Bundesnotarkammer) [Federal Chamber of Notaries] www.testamentsregister.de/

• Every Nachlassgericht (probate court) is responsible for the special official safekeeping of holographic wills (eigenhändige Testamente) • Notarial wills and inheritance contracts are kept in safekeeping at the Nachlassgericht (probate court) in whose district the notary has their official seat. However, you may apply at any time to have them kept in safekeeping at a different Nachlassgericht.