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  • Munich Regional Court: Online coaching contract invalid

    Becoming a cryptocurrency expert through online coaching sounds appealing, but it didn’t work for one participant. However, she wasn’t left out of pocket. The Munich Regional Court ordered the online coaching provider to refund the €1,500 in fees already paid to the plaintiff. Contracts for online coaching can be invalid if the coach does not…

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    16/01/2025
  • What is an inheritance dispute or partition action?

    An action for partition of an estate, also known as a partition action or inheritance division action, is a legal remedy when a community of heirs cannot agree on the division of the estate. This is often the case when there are multiple heirs and the estate includes assets such as real estate that cannot…

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    12/01/2025
  • Requirements for an action to divide an inheritance

    1. Estate ready for distribution: The estate must be ready for distribution. This means that all liabilities, such as funeral expenses and debts, must be settled, and the estate assets must be divisible. This is straightforward with cash assets, but often more difficult with real estate, as it usually has to be sold through a…

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    10/01/2025
  • Online coaching contract invalid – participant entitled to a refund

    Online coaching programs don’t always live up to participants’ expectations. However, there are ways to get out of a costly coaching contract. This is demonstrated by a ruling of the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart on August 29, 2024. The court ruled that the participant is entitled to a refund of nearly €24,000 already paid…

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    09/01/2025
  • Nachlassregelungs­kosten

    Which costs can be deducted as liabilities of the estate when settling an inheritance? According to the Federal Fiscal Court (BFH), the term “estate settlement costs” is to be interpreted broadly. This includes expenses incurred in connection with an auction – such as consulting and storage costs – provided they serve to generate the sums…

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    02/01/2025
  • The Art of Will Interpretation: Challenges and Solutions for Practice

    Yes, interpreting wills is one of the most demanding tasks in inheritance law. Judges face the challenge of ascertaining the testator’s true intentions, which are often only vaguely or indirectly expressed in the will. At the same time, these intentions must be reconciled with the strict legal requirements and formalities of inheritance law. This becomes…

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    02/01/2025
  • Historical Development of Inheritance Law

    German inheritance law, as we know it today, is based on millennia-old traditions and legal concepts that reach back to antiquity. Its roots lie in both Germanic and Roman law. 1. Origins in Roman and Germanic law As early as 450 BC, inheritance laws were codified in the Roman Twelve Tables, with testamentary succession taking…

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    02/01/2025
  • Liability of heirs and the community of heirs, as well as possibilities for limiting liability

    Upon the death of the testator, all of their assets and liabilities pass to the heirs. This process is legally known as universal succession. The heirs thus assume the legal position of the deceased and are also liable for their debts. They are jointly and severally liable, meaning that a creditor can demand payment of…

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    16/12/2024