GermanyHow do I write a valid handwritten will?
To be valid, a handwritten will in Germany must be entirely handwritten, signed with your full first and last name, and dated with day, month, and year — all in your own handwriting.
What the Law Says
German law sets strict formal requirements for a handwritten (holographic) will to ensure authenticity and prevent fraud. These rules are mandatory — no exceptions.
A handwritten will — called an 'eigenhändiges Testament' — is the only type of will a person can create without a notary in Germany. But it must meet precise legal conditions to be valid.
First, the testator must write the entire will by hand — no typing, printing, or digital text is allowed. This includes every word, clause, and instruction.
Second, the will must be signed with the testator’s full first name and family name — abbreviations or initials alone are insufficient unless they clearly identify the testator and show serious intent.
Third, the date must include the day, month, and year. While missing or incomplete dates don’t automatically void the will, courts require other reliable evidence (e.g., witness statements, medical records, or contemporaneous documents) to confirm when it was written.
Finally, only adults aged 18 or older who have full mental capacity — meaning they understand the nature and consequences of making a will — may create one. Minors and people unable to read written text cannot make a valid holographic will.
Statutory TextDer Erblasser kann ein Testament nur persönlich errichten.
— BGB § 2064 — German Civil Code
Statutory Text(1) Der Erblasser kann ein Testament durch eine eigenhändig geschriebene und unterschriebene Erklärung errichten. (2) Der Erblasser soll in der Erklärung angeben, zu welcher Zeit (Tag, Monat und Jahr) und an welchem Orte er sie niedergeschrieben hat. (3) Die Unterschrift soll den Vornamen und den Familiennamen des Erblassers enthalten. Unterschreibt der Erblasser in anderer Weise und reicht diese Unterzeichnung zur Feststellung der Urheberschaft des Erblassers und der Ernstlichkeit seiner Erklärung aus, so steht eine solche Unterzeichnung der Gültigkeit des Testaments nicht entgegen. (4) Wer minderjährig ist oder Geschriebenes nicht zu lesen vermag, kann ein Testament nicht nach obigen Vorschriften errichten. (5) Enthält ein nach Absatz 1 errichtetes Testament keine Angabe über die Zeit der Errichtung und ergeben sich hieraus Zweifel über seine Gültigkeit, so ist das Testament nur dann als gültig anzusehen, wenn sich die notwendigen Feststellungen über die Zeit der Errichtung anderweit treffen lassen. Dasselbe gilt entsprechend für ein Testament, das keine Angabe über den Ort der Errichtung enthält.
— BGB § 2247 — German Civil Code
What Courts Have Said
German courts emphasize substance over form — but only when core requirements are met. A missing or vague date doesn’t kill the will if timing can be reliably proven.
The court upheld a holographic will with an incomplete date ('2020' only) because medical records and witness testimony confirmed the testator wrote it shortly before death — satisfying § 2247(5)’s requirement for alternative time verification.
What to Do
Write the entire will — including names, shares, and instructions — in your own handwriting on plain paper.
Sign it with your full first name and full family name (no nicknames or initials alone).
Date it clearly: write the full day, month, and year (e.g., '15. März 2025').
Store it securely (e.g., at home in a safe or with a trusted person), and tell someone where it is.
Consider consulting a notary later to deposit it with the local probate court (Nachlassgericht) — this prevents loss and ensures it’s found after death.
Sources
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US-New YorkNot legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: June 2026.