Assets: How couples without a marriage certificate secure each other
Family law, inheritance law, tax law: Couples with a marriage certificate enjoy privileges in many areas of life. Those who do not want to get married can still secure themselves. A seven-point plan.
Frankfurt - Unmarried couples in Germany who live together, have children, and share expenses such as cars and bank accounts often feel a strong bond. However, legally, they are often treated as strangers in most areas. If one partner ends up in the hospital, the other has no right to information. If one person pays for the shared property, the other may face gift tax.
In the event of a separation, there is no compensation for the affected partner, and if one person dies, the other is not automatically an heir. According to the Federal Statistical Office, over three million unmarried couples in Germany are in this legally uncertain situation, with about one-third of them having children. But they do not have to remain in this precarious legal position: a lawyer and a tax advisor explain how unmarried couples can secure each other through seven steps, from the health care power of attorney to the partnership contract and down to the will.
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