vermachen

Vermachen is a legal term in German law describing the act of bequeathing a specific asset or right to a person through a will. The act creates a Vermächtnis, or bequest, which the beneficiary can demand from the estate after the testator’s death. The bequest may concern movable property, real estate, or other rights, and it can be conditioned or limited by statements in the testament.

In practical terms, a typical formulation is: "Ich vermache dir mein Auto." The person named as the beneficiary is the Vermächtnisnehmer, and the bequest becomes due upon the testator’s death, subject to the estate’s solvency and any Pflichtteil rights of statutory heirs. The executor or a court may enforce the bequest if disputes arise.

Vermachen is distinct from vererben. Vererben generally refers to passing on property as part of an inheritance, which can include intestate heirs and heirs through a will, whereas vermachen emphasizes the transfer of a specific item or right by testament. The overall estate may contain multiple Vermächtnisse; correspondingly, the term Vermächtnis is contrasted with the broader Erbschaft (inheritance).

See also: Vermächtnis, Testamentsvollstrecker, Pflichtteil, Erbschaft, Testament.