My father died in 2003 and did not write a will. I did not receive any inheritance. My stepmother died last year. They lived in Germany, my father was English and my stepmother was German, and they were married for 25 years. <br /><br />Do I now inherit the estate? She has made a will in which my children are beneficiaries. I have sent a letter to Probate Court to stop the distribution of the estate, and will be hiring a lawyer in Berlin. <br /><br />I am aware that I am previously entitled to a quarter of the estate, half of my father's estate. <br />My question is: do I have a right to my stepmother's estate now that my stepmother has died and I am the mother of the beneficiaries in my stepmother's will?<br />According to what I have read in the German Civil Code,#1924 a descendant living at the time of the accrual of the inheritance excludes from succession all descendants related by blood to the deceased through him. <br /><br />And also #1930 A relative by blood is not entitled to inherit so long as there is a relative by blood of a preceding class.
Already Tried: I have sent a letter to Probate Court in Kassel, Germany to cease the distribution of the estate.
Dear Customer,thank you for getting into contact with Just Answer.No I ´m sorry you do not inherit the estate. You are not a relative by blood to your stepmother, § 1924 BGB.The last will of your stepmother ist the decisive factor. So your children are the beneficiaries. Your children can legaly dispose about the estate.Best regardsHans-Georg SchiesslBarristerEdited by RASchiessl on 2/2/2011 at 8:27 AM EST
Experience: attorney-at-law More than 14 years experience of practicing law. Board- certified specialist