All Posts By

Bernhard Schmeilzl

Estate PlanningGerman ProbateGerman Succession & Inheritance LawInternational Probate

Adopted in the US? Why Your German Inheritance Is on Hold

How to Access the German Estate of your Adoptive Parent: A Practical Guide The German Inheritance Law Situation if Your Adoptive Parent Owned German Assets You were adopted as a child in the USA (or another non-EU country) many years or even decades ago and you quite naturally think of your adoptive parents as your "real parents". Sadly, one of your adoptive parents has now passed and that parent owned property or has held a…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
October 23, 2026
Civil actionGerman LawGoing to courtProfessional Regulations

Hiring a Lawyer in Germany: Everything UK Clients Need to Know

If you are a UK business or individual facing a legal dispute in Germany, your first instinct might be to brace yourself for mountains of paperwork, extensive "know your client" (KYC) checks, and lengthy engagement letters. Fortunately, the German legal system works quite differently. In Germany, civil law is a highly codified system, meaning that almost every aspect of the client-lawyer relationship is already regulated by federal black-letter law. Because these statutory protections are already…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
October 20, 2026
Conveyancing GermanyEstate PlanningEuropean ProbateGerman ProbateGerman Real Estate LawGerman Tax LawInternational Probate

Why You Should Sell Inherited German Property Within 12 Months from the Date of Death

German Inheritance Tax on Property If you inherit real estate located in Germany, it is generally subject to German inheritance tax (Erbschaftsteuer). Whether you actually have to pay tax in Germany depends on the total value of the estate (Erbmasse) and your familial relationship to the deceased (Verwandtschaftsverhältnis). However, a potential German tax liability always looms. How the German Tax Authorities Value Property The German tax office (Finanzamt) assesses the property through a specialized department…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
October 20, 2026
Civil actionGerman Corporate LawGerman Labor LawGerman LawGerman ProbateInternational Litigation

SJE Reports on German Law for English Courts

Experienced German Lawyers provide Expert Reports in Matters of German Law for Litigation in the UK In many legal disputes before the courts in England and Wales – ranging from cross-border commercial litigation, international family law cases, to inheritance and probate matters – the way in which German law governs certain facts of a case may become relevant at one point or another. From the perspective of an English judge, this foreign law aspect of…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
October 2, 2026
Civil actionGerman Tort LawInternational LitigationLitigation in Germany

When do German Courts have Jurisdiction in Cross-Border Civil Proceedings?

International Jurisdiction of German Civil Courts This article deals with the assessment of the jurisdiction of a German civil court in disputes where the parties have not entered into a contractual agreement on the international venue (Gerichtsstandsvereinbarung). The primary source of law governing international jurisdiction within the EU is the Brussels Ia Regulation (EuGVVO). This Regulation governs the jurisdiction of the courts of a Member State where the defendant is domiciled within the territory of…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
September 16, 2026
Business in GermanyEmployment Law GermanyGerman Citizenship and Immigration

How to Get Your UK Qualifications Recognized in Germany

An Expat Guide for British Professionals and Skilled Workers Germany is facing an aging population and a growing skilled labor shortage. This offers great career opportunities for skilled workers and academics. For British citizens looking to build a career in Germany, the biggest question is often: Will my degree or vocational certificate be recognized? Since Brexit, the rules have changed. The United Kingdom is now legally considered a third country (a non-EU state). However, this…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
September 16, 2026
Business in GermanyEmployment Law GermanyEuropean ProbateFamily LawGerman Citizenship and ImmigrationGerman ProbateInternational Divorce Cases

Moving to Germany changes applicable Divorce and Inheritance Laws

Expats from Britain or the United States should be aware of the unique rules that apply to divorce or the death of a family member while living in Germany. When businesses think about expanding to Germany and sending UK or US staff to Europe, they usually obtain tons of advice about visas, work permits, German employment law and the practical issues of relocating from an Anglo-American country to Germany. What rarely occurs to anyone are…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
September 16, 2026
Business in GermanyBusiness Tax & Fiscal ObligationsCriminal LawGerman Corporate Law

Corporate Tax Evasion Defence Lawyers in Germany

Checklist by German Criminal Defence Solicitors specialising in Corporate Tax Evasion Charges This article provides a summary of possible civil and criminal law consequences of unpaid business taxes under German law  Unpaid German corporate taxes lead to personal liability and criminal charges In many situations, board members and managing directors are personally and fully liable with their private assets for the company’s tax liabilities in Germany. Although German limited companies, such as the GmbH or…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
August 25, 2026
Civil actionDebt collectionGerman LawGoing to courtInternational LitigationLitigation in Germany

German Court Files are Confidential

Even German Court Judgments are not being fully published German Civil Court Case Files are not Public Record American and British lawyers naturally assume that court files are public record and can be easily accessed and inspected by anyone. Not in Germany! Germany is rather secretive when it comes to legal documents. Under German law, there is no general right to access court records in order to inspect and copy them. Instead, the written documents…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
August 24, 2026
Business in GermanyCivil actionDebt collectionGoing to courtInternational LitigationLitigation in Germany

German Commercial Litigation Lawyers for UK Businesses

B2B Debt Collection and Litigation Strategy in Germany Litigants from Britain will find themselves in a very different legal and cultural environment when they have to chase a debt from their German business partners. Many of the legal tools used in England do not exist in Germany. For instance, the German Civil Procedure Rules (Zivilprozessordnung) do not know: a pre-action protocol (a debtor can be immediately sued without any prior warning) any disclosure obligations, much…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
August 24, 2026