Is a handwritten will sufficient?

Yes — but a handwritten will must be written ENTIRELY by hand and signed personally (§ 2247 Abs. 1 BGB); stating the place and date is strongly recommended (§ 2247 Abs. 2 BGB). A text written on a computer or printed out is formally void as a handwritten will — in that case only the notarial form remains (§ 2232 BGB).

What is a joint spousal will (Berliner Testament)?

A joint will of spouses or registered partners (§ 2265 BGB), in which both usually appoint each other as sole heirs. Mutually dependent dispositions bind the surviving partner after the first death (§§ 2270, 2271 BGB) — without an amendment or remarriage clause, this often cannot be corrected later.

Can I exclude a child's compulsory share?

Not unilaterally by will — the compulsory share is a minimum entitlement (§§ 2303 ff. BGB). An exclusion is only possible through a notarial waiver agreement with the person concerned (§ 2346 BGB) or under the strict conditions for deprivation of the compulsory share (§ 2333 BGB).

What does an executor do?

A person you appoint carries out your last will, administers the estate and can protect heirs from their own poor decisions or from creditors' access (§§ 2197 ff. BGB) — useful, for example, where heirs are minors or in debt.

Where should I keep my will?

We recommend official safekeeping at the probate court — it prevents loss and problems with locating the will. Registration in the Central Register of Wills of the Federal Chamber of Notaries takes place automatically, so the probate court will reliably find your will when the time comes.

Consumers · Draw up a will

Draw up and check a will — handwritten or notarial, formally sound

Draw up a will without risking formal errors: we structure the appointment of heirs, substitute heirs and the burden of compulsory shares — you write the fair copy by hand.

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Quick check: what should you do?

3 short questions — no sign-up required.

Do your assets include real estate or shares in a business?

Do you have children from several relationships, or are you planning a joint spousal will (Berliner Testament)?

Do you already have a handwritten will that you would like to have checked?

Do you want to exclude a person entitled to a compulsory share entirely from the inheritance?

Deadline at a glance

Worthwhile at any time

There is no statutory deadline for a will — without a valid testamentary disposition, statutory succession applies (§§ 1924 ff. BGB), which rarely reflects your actual wishes.

It is an AI, not a person: nobody looks at your individual case, and we do not know who signs up or for what reason. That is why we give pointers, but no legal advice on the individual case. Guidelines and playbooks in the platform are only guardrails: the AI relies on the available sources and your information. AI can make mistakes — check important results, and if in doubt, ask a lawyer.

Typical risks in this scenario

What we pay special attention to

Curated from real cases. The AI review flags exactly these points in your document.

A typed or printed "handwritten" will is void for lack of form (§ 2247 Abs. 1 BGB) — only an entirely handwritten one counts.
The compulsory share (Pflichtteil) cannot be excluded by a unilateral provision (§§ 2346, 2333 BGB).
A joint will is only open to spouses/registered civil partners (§ 2265 BGB) — not to unmarried couples.
With a Berlin will (Berliner Testament), the mutual dependency of the provisions binds the surviving partner after the first death (§ 2271 BGB) — often no longer correctable without an amendment clause.

What you can do here in 5 minutes

A will determines who inherits — but only if the form is correct. A handwritten will (eigenhändiges Testament) must be written entirely by hand and signed (§ 2247 BGB), otherwise it is void; the alternative is a notarial will (§ 2232 BGB). We help you structure the appointment of heirs, substitute heirs, the burden of compulsory shares and — for married couples — the binding effect of a joint will (Berliner Testament, §§ 2270, 2271 BGB) properly, and point out typical formal errors.

Provide details of your family, assets and wishes (or upload an existing will) — we structure the appointment of heirs and substitute heirs, point out persons entitled to a compulsory share and typical formal errors, and provide a draft. For a handwritten will: you copy the text out entirely by hand and sign it yourself — only then is it formally valid.

How it works

Results in three steps

Record family & assets

Marital status, matrimonial property regime, statutory heirs and an overview of assets — the basis for inheritance shares and the calculation of compulsory shares.

Choose the form & draft

Handwritten (§ 2247 BGB) or notarial (§ 2232 BGB) — we structure the appointment of heirs, substitute heirs and, where applicable, execution of the will, and point out compulsory share risks.

Fair copy & registration

For a handwritten will: copy it out entirely by hand and sign it. We remind you of official safekeeping and the Central Register of Wills.

What you get

Record family & assets – Marital status, matrimonial property regime, statutory heirs and an overview of assets — the basis for inheritance shares and the calculation of compulsory shares.
Choose the form & draft – Handwritten (§ 2247 BGB) or notarial (§ 2232 BGB) — we structure the appointment of heirs, substitute heirs and, where applicable, execution of the will, and point out compulsory share risks.
Fair copy & registration – For a handwritten will: copy it out entirely by hand and sign it. We remind you of official safekeeping and the Central Register of Wills.

What it is not

No notarial certification — for a notarial will we refer you to a notary.
No substitute for the handwritten fair copy: for a handwritten will, an AI draft must be copied out entirely by hand (§ 2247 BGB) — otherwise it is formally void.
No inheritance tax advice.

FAQ

Common questions about this case

Transparency

What the AI checks — and what only a lawyer can decide

An AI is only as good as the question. We show openly where your answer is reliable and where you should speak with a lawyer.

For business succession, assets abroad (choice of law under Art. 22 EuErbVO), a will for a disabled or needy heir, an intended deprivation of the compulsory share, or where a dispute among the heirs is foreseeable: a specialist lawyer for inheritance law or a notary. We refer you directly.

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