Erbverläufe

Erbverläufe, a German term, refers to the inheritance process and the sequence of heirs entitled to an estate. This legal concept is central to inheritance law and dictates who inherits property and assets upon a person's death. The determination of Erbverläufe is primarily based on statutory succession, which outlines a predetermined order of relatives who are considered heirs. This order is typically divided into several classes, starting with the closest relatives.

The first order of succession usually includes children and, if they have predeceased, their descendants. If there are no direct descendants, the succession moves to the parents of the deceased and their descendants, which would include siblings. If neither of these groups exists, the inheritance then passes to grandparents and their descendants, such as aunts, uncles, and cousins. Further orders of succession extend to great-grandparents and their relatives.

In the absence of any statutory heirs, the estate will pass to the state. It is important to note that an individual can alter the statutory Erbverläufe through a will or a testamentary contract. These documents allow the testator to specify beneficiaries and distribute their assets according to their wishes, potentially overriding the default legal provisions. The administration of an estate, following the established Erbverläufe, involves identifying heirs, valuing assets, settling debts, and distributing the remaining property.