Testament

[heidi_de]

We originally had a will drawn up when we were living in the UK, but we want to draw up a new will. We basically want to have a berliner testament where if one of us dies, the other one gets everything. When the last remaining dies anything remaining should go to a Tierheim if possible.
I read up about Berliner Testaments but not sure if we both have to write effectively the same one or one person writes it and both sign it.
I want to avoid having any money go to my remaining parent and/or siblings.
Any advice would be welcome.

[heidi_de]

I actually came across the following example from one of the tierheims:

Wir setzen uns gegenseitig zum Alleinerben ein. Erbe des Längstlebenden ist der Tierschutzverein "blah blah", der den Nachlass für seine satzungsgemäßen Zwecke zu verwenden hat.

I assume this can be handwritten and stored at a local probate office?

[MadAxeMurderer]

Look up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holographic_will

I intend to write mine on a computer, print it, and then copy it out by hand. And keep both together so my awful handwriting will not be my final legacy.
I guess it's much easier to forge a signature than a whole handwritten document.

Tierheim or anything environmental is an EXCELLENT choice as final recipient.

[snowingagain]

If you have no children, the parents have Pflichtteil rights? Siblings not, but parents do?

[alma.freya]

If you have no children, the parents have Pflichtteil rights? Siblings not, but parents do?

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/engl ... html#p8395

(2) The parents and spouse of the testator have the same right if they have been excluded from succession by disposition mortis causa. The provision of section 1371 remains unaffected.

[snowingagain]

OK, I mean I only posted what I did as it was just a thought that popped into my mindd. However, I have no idea what your reply actually means. An explanation would be useful. Ta.

[PandaMunich]

OK, I mean I only posted what I did as it was just a thought that popped into my mindd. However, I have no idea what your reply actually means. An explanation would be useful. Ta.

He's agreeing with you, parents have a Pflichtteil - brothers and sisters do not.

This is laid down in § 2303 (2) BGB: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/engl ... html#p8385

• Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB)
  § 2303 Pflichtteilsberechtigte; Höhe des Pflichtteils
  
  (1) Ist ein Abkömmling des Erblassers durch Verfügung von Todes wegen von der Erbfolge ausgeschlossen, so kann er von dem Erben den Pflichtteil verlangen. Der Pflichtteil besteht in der Hälfte des Wertes des gesetzlichen Erbteils.
  
  (2) Das gleiche Recht steht den Eltern und dem Ehegatten des Erblassers zu, wenn sie durch Verfügung von Todes wegen von der Erbfolge ausgeschlossen sind. Die Vorschrift des § 1371 bleibt unberührt.
  .
  .
• Section 2303 Person entitled to a compulsory share of the estate; amount of the share
  
  (1) If a descendant of the testator is excluded by disposition mortis causa from succession, then they may demand their compulsory share from the heir. The compulsory share is one-half of the value of the intestate portion.
  
  (2) The parents and spouse of the testator have the same right if they have been excluded from succession by disposition mortis causa. The provision of section 1371 remains unaffected.

Here is an article on this topic (their cookie does not work well with GoogleTranslate, I suggest you copy its contents into DeepL.com to get it translated into English): https://www.rosepartner.de/pflichtteil- ... gatte.html

[snowingagain]

Many thanks Panda. How does this work out on a practical level? Say if OP dies, how would parents abroad be involved if a testament left everything to the local Tierheim? What if they did not approve?

[PandaMunich]

How does this work out on a practical level? Say if OP dies, how would parents abroad be involved if a testament left everything to the local Tierheim? What if they did not approve?

We will assume that being a woman, the OP outlives her husband, and then she dies, outlived by her parents.
Her parents would then have until 31.12. of (year of death + 3 years) to ask the Tierheim to pay out the Pflichtteil to them, which is always in cash and would be 50% (25% per parent, which is half of the 50% each of her parents would have inherited if there had been no will) of the value of the assets that the Tierheim had inherited from the OP.
If OP had gifted the Tierheim assets/money within the last 10 years before her death, then her parents get more, since there is then a Pflichtteilergänzungsanspruch (= additional part to the compulsory portion), see chapter 5 in here (this is again a Rose article, so not translatable via GoogleTranslate): https://www.rosepartner.de/pflichtteil- ... pruch.html

For details on how to claim the Pflichtteil, please read this article: https://www-raklinger-de.translate.goog ... r_pto=wapp

[snowingagain]

Once again, thanks for your detailed advice. Amazing.