GermanyWhat is the surviving spouse's small forced share option?
The 'small forced share' (kleiner Pflichtteil) is not a statutory right in German law — it's a common misnomer. The surviving spouse has no standalone forced share unless entitled as a statutory heir or under § 1371 (marital property equalization).
What the Law Says
German law does not recognize a 'small forced share' (kleiner Pflichtteil) for surviving spouses. Unlike children or parents, spouses are not automatically entitled to a forced share (Pflichtteil) under § 2303 BGB — unless they qualify as statutory heirs under § 1931 or benefit from the marital property equalization under § 1371.
The forced share (Pflichtteil) under § 2303 BGB applies only to descendants, parents, and — in limited cases — the surviving spouse *if* they would have been entitled to inherit under intestacy rules *and* were excluded by will. But crucially, the spouse’s Pflichtteil is always calculated as *half of their statutory share*, not a separate 'small' amount.
The spouse’s actual inheritance share depends entirely on family structure at death and marital property regime (e.g., community of accrued gains). Under § 1931, their statutory share ranges from one-quarter to the full estate — never a fixed 'small' portion.
Section 1371 governs equalization of accrued gains (Zugewinnausgleich) upon death — which can significantly increase what the surviving spouse receives *in addition to* their inheritance share, but this is a property law claim, not a forced share.
Statutory TextDer 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 (1) — Surviving spouse's statutory share
Statutory TextSind weder Verwandte der ersten oder der zweiten Ordnung noch Großeltern vorhanden, so erhält der überlebende Ehegatte die ganze Erbschaft.
— BGB § 1931 (2) — Full estate if no relatives
Statutory TextDie Vorschrift des § 1371 bleibt unberührt.
— BGB § 1931 (3) — Marital property equalization applies separately
What to Do
Confirm your marital property regime (e.g., Zugewinngemeinschaft, Gütertrennung) — it directly affects both inheritance and equalization claims.
If disinherited by will, calculate whether you qualify for a Pflichtteil: you must be a statutory heir under § 1931 *and* have been omitted or reduced in the will.
If eligible for Pflichtteil, claim half of your statutory share (e.g., half of ¼ = ⅛ of estate) — file within three years of learning of disinheritance.
Separately assess your § 1371 claim for accrued gains equalization — this often yields more than the Pflichtteil and has its own deadlines.
Consult a German specialist attorney (Fachanwalt für Erbrecht) before accepting or disclaiming the inheritance.
Sources
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Not 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.