Who inherits if there is no will?

What the Law Says

German inheritance law applies 'universal succession' — meaning the entire estate passes automatically at death to statutory heirs, unless a valid will says otherwise. The order of heirs is strictly defined by law, with priority given to blood relatives and the surviving spouse.

Under BGB § 1922, the deceased’s entire estate (assets and debts) transfers immediately upon death to one or more statutory heirs — a principle called 'Gesamtrechtsnachfolge' (universal succession). No court order or formal acceptance is needed for inheritance to begin.

BGB § 1924 establishes that descendants (children, grandchildren, etc.) are first-in-line heirs. A living child excludes their own children from inheriting directly — but if a child predeceased the deceased, that child’s descendants step in 'by stems' (nach Stämmen), sharing that child’s portion equally.

If there are no descendants, BGB § 1925 brings in second-order heirs: the deceased’s parents and their descendants (i.e., siblings and nieces/nephews). If both parents are alive, they inherit equally; if only one parent survives, their share passes to their living descendants — or to the surviving parent alone if none exist.

The surviving spouse is never excluded. Per BGB § 1931, they inherit alongside others: ¼ of the estate with descendants, ½ with parents or siblings, and the full estate if no relatives in the first two orders or grandparents exist. Special rules apply under Gütertrennung (separation of property), where the spouse and children may split equally.

Statutory Text

(1) Mit dem Tode einer Person (Erbfall) geht deren Vermögen (Erbschaft) als Ganzes auf eine oder mehrere andere Personen (Erben) über.

— BGB § 1922 — German Civil Code

Statutory Text

(1) Gesetzliche Erben der ersten Ordnung sind die Abkömmlinge des Erblassers.

— BGB § 1924 — German Civil Code

Statutory Text

(1) Gesetzliche Erben der zweiten Ordnung sind die Eltern des Erblassers und deren Abkömmlinge.

— BGB § 1925 — German Civil Code

Statutory Text

(1) Der überlebende Ehegatte des Erblassers ist neben Verwandten der ersten Ordnung zu einem Viertel, neben Verwandten der zweiten Ordnung oder neben Großeltern zur Hälfte der Erbschaft als gesetzlicher Erbe berufen.

— BGB § 1931 — German Civil Code

What to Do

Sources

Related Questions