The German right to a compulsory portion protects the direct relatives of the testator from being completely disinherited. The right to a compulsory portion is based on the constitutional principle of family solidarity. The compulsory portion is not a genuine inheritance right, but must be actively enforced by the person entitled to the compulsory portion […]

“I disinherit you!” is easier said than done. The hurdles for disinheritance are very high under German inheritance law. This applies at least to heirs who are entitled to a compulsory portion in accordance with the statutory order of succession.

What happens if someone dies without leaving a will or an inheritance contract? In this case, the statutory succession applies in Germany, which we explain in this article.