Refuse inheritance: If you don't inherit it, there is one thing to consider

Created: 09/24/2022, 11:00 am

By: Jasmine Farah

When someone dies, it is sad for the bereaved, but the estate must also be settled.

What if you don't want to inherit?

When a person dies, there are many consequences.

The occasion is very sad and often emotional for the bereaved, but there is also a lot to do for the immediate family.

Accordingly, the first thing to do is the funeral, here there is a choice to be made as far as the circumstances are concerned.

This is followed by the will, if the deceased made one during his lifetime.

Refuse inheritance: If you don't inherit it, there is one thing to consider

He also designates one or more heirs who are to take over and administer the estate upon the death of the testator.

But there is a catch: This also applies to debts left behind by the testator.

The heir must therefore be liable for these and continue to pay them, also with his own assets.

However, if you do not want that, you have the option of turning down the inheritance.

But be careful: there is a six-week period from knowledge.

It is therefore better not to let this pass if you do not want to accept the inheritance.

With good reason, explains the

.

When a person dies, the bereaved must take care of the estate.

(symbol image) © McPHOTO/Imago

The inheritance, along with the debts, is eventually passed on to the next person in the line of succession.

In concrete terms, this means: If you have children and if they are also minors, you must also refuse the inheritance as the legal representative for them.

But how do I do it correctly?

If you have decided not to take it up, you must first inform the probate court.

Don't want to miss any money-related news?

You can subscribe to the Merkur Health Newsletter here.

This is the district court in whose district the deceased had his last domicile or residence.

According to the

advice center, this is also possible in the responsible district court in whose district you are based.

Disclaiming inheritance: How to proceed correctly

The best thing to do is to introduce yourself personally and officially declare the waiver of the inheritance.

It is not enough to communicate it in writing.

You will then have to pay a court fee based on the size of the inheritance.

Alternatively, you can also commission a notary to have a corresponding official declaration drawn up.

However, this is associated with additional costs.

also read

That's how much money German pensioners have compared to their European neighbors

How long do Germans work in a Europe-wide comparison?

You must also ensure that the certified declaration is received by the district court within the deadline.

By the way: think twice before turning down an inheritance.

Ultimately, this applies to the entire estate.

This means that you no longer have any claim to your compulsory portion, and you must also return items from it that you have already stolen.

But what happens if all heirs renounce?

Then, in the end, the state inherits.

In conclusion, this means that he receives the inheritance, but does not have to pay off any outstanding debts.

Tax tricks: How to save money on your tax return

View photo gallery