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All Posts By

Bernhard Schmeilzl

German ProbateGerman Succession & Inheritance LawGerman Tax Law

Don’t be afraid of Clients with Foreign Assets!

Crash Course for UK Inheritance Lawyers: Will Preparation for International Families and Expats. Obtaining Foreign Probate Solicitors working in the field Wills & Probate, sooner rather than later, are faced with clients who own foreign assets, are married to non-British spouses or are sent abroad as expats by their employers. These international clients, in most circumstances, will rely on their Will to also cover their non-UK assets and to function in foreign jurisdictions, i.e. the…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
October 20, 2015
German Corporate Law

What is an “eingetragener Verein” (e.V.) under German Law

Ho to establish a German Non-Profit Organisation Most businesses in Germany are organised either as corporations (GmbH or AG) or as partnerships (GBR, OHG, KG, PartG), for an overview see here. Sometimes, however, one comes across organisations which have the letters "e.V." after their name. This stands for "eingetragener Verein" meaning "registered association". An e.V. under German law is a Körperschaft (corporation), which is defined as being a legal entity which is separate from its…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
October 13, 2015
German ProbateGerman Succession & Inheritance LawGerman Tax Law

International Wills and Estate Planning for British-German Families

... and the big misunderstanding regarding the "choice of inheritance (tax) law" Drafting a Will is no easy matter. It gets even more complicated if you are a mixed-nationality family, if you have assets in more than one country or if you have more than one residence. This posting explains the basic rules of estate planning for British-German spouses or families. With international inheritance cases and estate planning one must always strictly distinguish between two…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
July 24, 2015
Family LawGerman Succession & Inheritance Law

Living Will and Enduring Power of Attorney under German Law

How to set up Advance Directives for Medical Treatment under German law In Germany, it is rather common to set up a Power of Attorney (Vorsorgevollmacht) and/or a Living Will (Patientenverfügung). The formal requirements for both are quite simple. Whereas a Last Will (Testament) must either be written in the testators own hand or must be recorded in the presence of a German notary (details here), both an Enduring Power of Attorney as well as…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
July 23, 2015
Family Law

Challenging Paternity in Germany and the UK: Very Different Procedures

Am I really the father? How can I find out? Paternity tests under German law Imagine you get to know a woman at the birthday party of your best friend; it is love at first sight. A whirlwind romance begins and you decide to get married. Then your wife gives you the happy news that a child is under way.  After your child is born, your sweet little baby looks like the spitting image of…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
July 10, 2015
Business in GermanyConveyancing GermanyGerman Law

What is an Ausfertigung of a German Notary’s Deed?

Certification and Legalisation of Documents in Germany German law requires important agreements and declarations to be recorded by a Notary (details here). Parties are sometimes confused or even annoyed that they do not receive the original signed document or even a certified copy of the signed deed, but "only" a so called Ausfertigung. According to the Beurkundungsgesetz (German Act on Notarial Deeds) the signed original (Urschrift) remains with the notary (section 45 I BeurkG). The…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
April 21, 2015
German LawGerman Tort LawGoing to courtLitigation in Germany

If you are bitten by a Dog in Germany …

Tort claims based on animal attacks in Germany Animals are unpredictable. Even well-tempered dogs can snap out of the blue. Under German law, the owner (more precisely the keeper, but in most cases owner and keeper are the same person) is legally responsible and financially liable for any damage his/her dog causes (see Section 833 German Civil Code), even if the keeper has done nothing wrong and the animal has never before attacked someone. Therefore,…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
April 21, 2015
Debt collectionGerman Law

For how long can a Creditor demand Repayment of a Loan under German Law?

How does German law treat loan agreements that state no specific repayment date? Germans have the saying "Bei Geld hört die Freundschaft auf" which loosely translates as "it's better not to mix friendship and money matters". Friends or relatives do borrow money though. What often causes problems is that the parties feel uncomfortable about creating a formal, written agreement. The approach tends to be: "We are good friends and trust each other, therefore we do…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
April 8, 2015
Business in GermanyGerman Law

Graf & Partners LLP at Munich Expat Fair on 22 March 2015

Get Connected. Be Inspired. You’re Invited! That is the motto for the Expat in the City Fair that takes place on 22nd of March at the Alte Kongresshalle in Munich. It will be a one-day experience with information and inspiration for all internationals living in Munich. The people and businesses at the fair, that includes the law firm GRAF & PARTNERS LLP and their English solicitors and German lawyers, can help you make life in…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
March 10, 2015
German ProbateGerman Succession & Inheritance Law

What is called a Cousin in English may be called a Nephew in German

"False Friends" in Anglo-German Kinship Terminology This sometimes creates confusion in British-German inheritance cases. Especially when there exists a German Certificate of Inheritance which lists nieces or nephews as beneficiaries. Because these persons would (in most cases) be called cousins in English, which can lead to queries by the English probate commissioner, because he / she will assume that the probate application has been filled out incorrectly. So, to avoid confusion, one should explain to…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
February 6, 2015