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To ensure that you are always up to date, you will receive occasional notifications about important court rulings as well as legal commentary and notes from our experts on this page. Please be aware that the original language of our news content is German. While we strive for accuracy, automated or manual translations may occasionally contain errors. If any part of a ruling or commentary is unclear, do not hesitate to reach out to us for direct advice.

This applies to the adoption of children or adults.

Schleswig-Holstein Chamber of Notaries. Adoption is often considered when children have been living in a blended or foster family for a long time and have little or no contact with their biological parents. However, the specific legal requirements vary depending on the age of the prospective adoptee. For minor children, the consent of the biological parents is required, whereby...

Waiver of compulsory portion only possible with a notary

Westphalian Chamber of Notaries. Excluding a legitimate heir from their statutory share is only possible in exceptional cases under the law. However, sometimes those affected themselves wish to waive their statutory share. This requires a statutory share waiver agreement. There are a number of important requirements to be observed in this regard. How can inheritance claims be regulated by contract? Anyone who is excluded from the legal succession by a will or inheritance contract has, as a direct...

Exemption from the obligation to carry identification – fraught with risks

Older people in particular often decide not to reapply for a new ID card when their current one expires – perhaps because they require care or rarely go out in public. However, what is well-intentioned can become a problem: even with an official exemption from the ID requirement, notaries are required to verify the identity of the parties involved beyond any doubt.

Danger due to incorrect declaration of division

Westphalian Chamber of Notaries. Anyone who wants to become an apartment owner in a multi-unit building cannot avoid the issue of the declaration of division. This document bindingly specifies how a building and the associated land are divided between the owners and thus forms the basis for entry in the land register. In practice, however, it often turns out that the information in the declaration of division...

Chambers of tax advisors, lawyers, and notaries provide information about inheritance and bequests

Schleswig-Holstein Chamber of Notaries. How can a company be inherited in a legally secure and tax-optimized manner? This question was the focus of this year's Inheritance Law Day 2025 at the Lübeck Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Experts from the fields of law, notary services, tax consulting, and corporate management highlighted the numerous pitfalls that lurk in company succession—and presented practical solutions. Common mistakes: When regulations are lacking...

Notarial video certifications save time and effort

Schleswig-Holstein Chamber of Notaries. The ongoing digitization of notarial services offers consumers significant advantages. Notarial matters such as notarizations and certifications can also be handled online on screen together with a trusted notary. GmbH formation and other legal transactions via video Video notarizations save time and effort. The Federal Chamber of Notaries provides a central platform for notarial video conferences. On this platform, for example...