German Inheritance Law

06/12/2026

"So… what exactly do you do?" 🎥

I get this question a lot — so I made a short video to answer it.

The short version: I'm a German attorney in Denver, Colorado and I help U.S. families who inherit assets in Germany. German probate court, certificate of inheritance, inheritance tax, getting the money to the U.S. — I handle the entire German side, in plain English, in your time zone.

If you (or someone you know) just inherited from a relative in Germany and have no idea where to start: watch the video, then send me a message.

👉 [email protected]

Ever wondered what a German inheritance lawyer in the U.S. actually...

05/31/2026

There's something about a lake. ☀️

This is where I am right now — on holiday, watching my little one throw stones into the water and being completely, happily in the moment. No phone, no deadlines, just trees, water, and a very proud three-year-old with a good throwing arm. 💙

These quiet days are good for the soul. They're also when the important thoughts tend to surface — about family, about the people we love, and about making sure they're looked after no matter what.

So here's a gentle thought to take to your own summer break: do you have a will? And just as importantly — is it actually valid?

It's something I help families with every day, especially those with ties to both Germany and the U.S. So often people believe everything is "taken care of," only to discover the document wouldn't hold up — or doesn't fit together across two countries. A little clarity now spares the people you love a great deal of stress later.

No need to act today. Just let it cross your mind while you're somewhere peaceful. That's usually where the best thinking happens. 🌲

I'm away on holiday this week, so I'll be a little slower to reply — but I'd always rather hear from you sooner than later. 🌅

05/22/2026

📺 New video is live!

If you have inherited — or expect to inherit — assets in Germany while living in the U.S., this one is for you.

German inheritance tax (Erbschaftsteuer) is one of the most misunderstood parts of a cross-border estate. Many heirs assume that because they live in the United States, Germany simply has no claim on them. That is often not the case.

In today's video I cover, in plain English:

✔ When German inheritance tax applies if you live outside of Germany
✔ How the German tax classes work — and why your relationship to the deceased can dramatically change what you owe
✔ The personal tax-free allowances (up to €500,000 for spouses and €400,000 per child) — and the catch that most non-resident heirs don't know about
✔ Why a quick conversation early in the process can save tens of thousands of euros later

I'm Nicola— a German-qualified attorney based in Denver, helping families on both sides of the Atlantic navigate German probate, inheritance tax, and estate administration.

👉 Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyZxliiepb0
👉 Questions? Send me a message or visit germaninheritancelaw.us

05/08/2026

Many German-American families do not realize that the joint will (Berliner Testament) they signed years ago in Germany can create real tax and family problems once one spouse becomes a U.S. resident, holds a green card, or owns U.S. assets.

In our latest article, we walk through the four most common cross-border pitfalls:

• the binding effect after the first death (§ 2271 BGB)
• forfeited EUR 400,000 allowances per child under the German Inheritance Tax Act
• surprise compulsory share (Pflichtteil) claims by U.S.-based children
• choice-of-law surprises under the EU Succession Regulation

If you signed a Berliner Testament in Germany and your life has since acquired a U.S. dimension — a move, a marriage, a green card, or U.S. assets — it is worth a focused review before, not after, anything happens.

Read more: www.germaninheritancelaw.us

05/01/2026

🎙️ New podcast episode is live!

Last week I joined Verdict Signal for an episode called "Inheriting Debt" — and the title is more literal than most Americans realise.

In Germany, when you inherit, you inherit everything: the assets and the debts. There is no automatic creditor protection like in U.S. probate, and the deadline to walk away from a German inheritance can be as short as six weeks.

We talked through what U.S. heirs need to know before they accept anything, the deadlines that catch most families off guard, and a few real-world examples of what goes wrong.
Have a listen 👉 https://www.ednadigitalmarketing.com/inheriting-debt-nicola-casper-hoesl
(And if you missed it: I'm doing three free in-person sessions on cross-border German inheritance law in Hamburg and Berlin this July — drop a comment if you'd like the dates.)

04/25/2026

All you need to know about the German Erbschein - in my new video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S0ETU6Iec4

04/24/2026

What you need to know about the German Erbschein

Have you inherited something in Germany — a bank account, a piece of property, a share in the family home? Sooner or later, someone will ask you for an Erbschein.

My new video explains, in plain language, what the German Erbschein is, why it matters, when you actually need one, and how to obtain it while living in the United States.

Whether you are a U.S. citizen with a German inheritance, a German family member living abroad, or simply helping a relative navigate a cross-border estate, this is information worth knowing before you first walk into a German probate court.

Watch the full video on my YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/-S0ETU6Iec4) or at www.germaninheritancelaw.us

04/18/2026

Just inherited something from a relative in Germany?

Don't assume your U.S. probate paperwork will work there. It won't.
German banks, the German land registry, and German courts do not accept U.S. Letters Testamentary. To release a German bank account, transfer a German apartment, or settle a German estate, U.S. heirs almost always need an Erbschein — a certificate of inheritance issued by the German probate court (Nachlassgericht).
In our latest article, we explain:
• When you actually need an Erbschein — and when a notarial will can replace it
• How to apply from the United States (apostille, certified translations, the sworn statement)
• Why the process typically takes three to nine months — and how to coordinate with U.S. probate

If you are dealing with a German inheritance, this is what to know before you contact the bank.

Read more: https://www.germaninheritancelaw.us/blog/

04/11/2026

If you're a U.S. based heir dealing with a death in Germany, this is for you.

I break down exactly what to do first — from getting the German death certificate to understanding the Erbschein process.

https://youtu.be/VeBb6_yOvt0

02/09/2026

🌍 USA ↔️ Germany: Cross-Border Inheritance Law – Yes, I'm in on the trend 😉

Let’s face it – inheritance law isn’t sexy. But cross-border inheritance?
That’s where things get interesting.

I work with Germans who own assets in the U.S. – and Americans inheriting property or money in Germany.
➡️ Who inherits what?
➡️ Is your U.S. Last Will valid in German court?
➡️ What does the Erbschein process require?
➡️ And what happens to real estate in the German Grundbuch?

I’m a German attorney located in the U.S., specialized in cross-border estate matters between both countries.

✅ High-level.
✅ International.
✅ Personally involved.

If your family, assets, or legacy stretch across the Atlantic – let’s talk.
📩 www.germaninheritancelaw.us / [email protected]