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Law of succession - return of wills and inheritance contracts from special official custody

Erbrecht - Rückgabe von Testamenten und Erbverträgen aus der besonderen amtlichen Verwahrung
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.
You can request the return of your will from special official safekeeping at any time. An Erbvertrag (inheritance contract) that contains only dispositions of property upon death can be withdrawn from official or notarial safekeeping and returned to the contracting parties. Your notarial will or Erbvertrag (inheritance contract) is deemed revoked if it is returned from official safekeeping. A corresponding note is placed on the will or Erbvertrag (inheritance contract). • The return of a handwritten will does not have this effect; it is not deemed revoked.

Book an appointment

Book an appointment (service.berlin.de)

Requirements

• Testierfähigkeit (testamentary capacity) www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__2229.html • personal appearance The will may only be returned to you in person www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__2256.html. A joint www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__2272.html will may only be returned to both spouses; this also applies to joint wills of registered civil partners www.gesetze-im-internet.de/lpartg/__10.html. The return of an Erbvertrag (inheritance contract) www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__2300.html can only be made to all contracting parties jointly.

Documents you need

• Personalausweis (identity card) or passport with Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate) • Hinterlegungsschein (deposit certificate) The Hinterlegungsschein contains the storage details of your will. Presenting it is not strictly required, but it makes it easier to locate your will.

Fees

No fees are charged for the return of items from special official safekeeping.

Legal basis

• § 346 FamFG (Act on Proceedings in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-Contentious Jurisdiction) www.gesetze-im-internet.de/famfg/__346.html

Who is responsible

The Nachlassgericht (probate court) with which the will or the inheritance contract is deposited is responsible.

Responsible for you

Choose a location; the appointment itself is booked on the original page.

Original

German original

Service number 327675 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/327675/