Berlin Testament: What you need to know about estate planning in 2026
The Berlin Testimony is a widely used form of estate regulation in Germany. In this, married couples appoint each other as heirs. An overview of what needs to be considered.
The Berliner Testament is a popular way for married couples in Germany to jointly regulate their estate and secure the surviving partner financially. This type of joint will allows spouses to name each other as sole heirs, with the estate typically passing to their children or other designated heirs after the death of the surviving spouse.
Unmarried couples are excluded from this option under the German Civil Code (BGB). The Berliner Testament aims to ensure the financial well-being of the surviving partner, but means that children do not inherit until both parents have passed away.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
