On Monday, 14 September 2026, I will be speaking with The German Society of Pennsylvania on what happens when an American inherits from Germany — and where the process most often goes wrong.
German inheritance law is not a translated version of American probate. It runs on different principles:
- No executor by default. Under German law the estate passes directly to the heirs at the moment of death, assets and liabilities together (§ 1922 BGB). There is usually no court-appointed administrator standing between you and the estate.
- Short deadlines. The period for disclaiming an inheritance is measured in weeks, not months, and it is calculated differently for heirs living outside Germany.
- Proof of heirship. German banks, land registries and insurers generally will not act without an Erbschein (certificate of inheritance) or a European Certificate of Succession.
- Two tax systems. German inheritance tax and U.S. estate and income tax rules apply on different bases. Coordination is what keeps a cross-border estate from being taxed twice.
In one hour I will walk through the process from the first letter from the German probate court to the final transfer of funds, and answer your questions live.
Event details
- Date: Monday, 14 September 2026
- Time: 7:00–8:00 PM Eastern (6:00 PM Central · 5:00 PM Mountain · 4:00 PM Pacific)
- Format: Online — access link sent after registration
- Cost: Free
- Host: The German Society of Pennsylvania
This webinar provides general information on German inheritance law and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by attending.
