Certificate of Inheritance (Erbschein) Costs 2026: Fees, Alternatives and Money-Saving Tips

The Erbschein (certificate of inheritance) is the official document that identifies you as an heir. But what does an Erbschein cost in 2026? The fees depend on the value of the estate and can quickly amount to several hundred or thousand euros. We explain all the costs, when you really need an Erbschein and which cheaper alternatives exist. Note that the rules described here are German inheritance law: the Nachlassgericht is the German probate court, and a notary (Notar) is a public-law legal professional who authenticates documents.

Erbschein costs at a glance

The fees depend on the value of the estate (assets minus debts):

Estate value	Court fee	Notary fee	Total cost*
10,000 €	75 €	75 €	approx. 165 €
50,000 €	165 €	165 €	approx. 360 €
100,000 €	273 €	273 €	approx. 600 €
250,000 €	535 €	535 €	approx. 1,175 €
500,000 €	935 €	935 €	approx. 2,050 €
1,000,000 €	1,735 €	1,735 €	approx. 3,800 €

*Total cost where the affirmation in lieu of an oath is notarised by a notary, including 19% VAT on the notary fee, plus minor expenses. Fee amounts according to Table B of Annex 2 to the Court and Notary Costs Act (GNotKG; version Federal Law Gazette 2025 I No. 109). If the affirmation is given directly at the probate court, VAT does not apply.

How are the fees calculated?

The Erbschein costs consist of:

1. Court fee (probate court)

Calculated under the Court and Notary Costs Act (GNotKG)
Amounts to a 1.0 fee according to Table B (item 12210 of the cost schedule to the GNotKG)
The court may demand an advance on costs before it issues the Erbschein

2. Notary fee (affirmation in lieu of an oath)

For notarising the affirmation in lieu of an oath
Also a 1.0 fee according to Table B (item 23300 of the cost schedule to the GNotKG), plus 19% VAT at the notary
Can also be given at the probate court – where the same 1.0 fee applies, only without VAT

3. Incidental costs

Document flat fee: approx. 20–50 €
Service expenses: approx. 10–20 €
Certified copies: 10–15 € each

When do you need an Erbschein?

Erbschein required

Re-registering entries in the land register (property)
Access to bank accounts without an account power of attorney
Re-registering vehicles
Terminating the deceased’s contracts
Asserting claims in court

Erbschein NOT required

With a notarial will plus opening record
With an inheritance contract plus opening record
If a bank power of attorney applies beyond death
For small estates (some banks are accommodating up to 5,000 €)

Money-saving tip: a notarial will saves the Erbschein costs entirely!

Alternatives to the Erbschein

1. Notarial will + opening record

Court fee for the opening: flat 100 € (item 12101 of the cost schedule to the GNotKG); the notarial will itself costs a Table B fee when it is drawn up
Accepted by banks and land registries
Considerably cheaper than an Erbschein for large estates

2. European Certificate of Succession

For cross-border inheritance cases in the EU
Costs similar to an Erbschein
Recognised in all EU countries

3. Transmortal power of attorney

A bank power of attorney that applies beyond death
Allows immediate access to the account
No cost for proof of inheritance needed

Applying for an Erbschein: how it works

Application at the probate court

Informal application (in writing or in person)
Bring the death certificate
ID card and birth certificate
If applicable, family record book, marriage certificate
Give the affirmation in lieu of an oath

Application via a notary

The notary prepares all documents
Notarisation of the affirmation in lieu of an oath
The notary forwards the application to the court
More convenient; the extra costs compared with the court are mainly VAT on the notary fee and expenses

Processing time: 4–8 weeks, longer in complex cases

Cost examples from practice

Example 1: small estate

Estate value: 30,000 € (bank balance, car)
Court fee: 125 €
Notary fee: 125 €
Incidental costs: 40 €
Total: approx. 290 €

Example 2: medium estate

Estate value: 200,000 € (flat, securities account, accounts)
Court fee: 435 €
Notary fee: 435 €
Incidental costs: 50 €
Total: approx. 920 €

Example 3: large estate

Estate value: 800,000 € (house, company shareholding)
Court fee: 1,415 €
Fee for the affirmation in lieu of an oath: 1,415 €
Incidental costs: 80 €
Total: approx. 2,910 € (at a notary plus around 270 € VAT)

Money-saving tips for the Erbschein

Apply yourself: directly at the probate court rather than via a notary – the fee for the affirmation in lieu of an oath applies there too, but you save the VAT on the notary fee
Consider a partial Erbschein: if only one heir needs the certificate, a partial Erbschein is enough
Consider an alternative: a notarial will makes the Erbschein unnecessary
Limit copies: only as many certified copies as necessary
Deduct debts: estate value = assets MINUS debts

Rejecting an Erbschein or disclaiming the inheritance?

Important: applying for an Erbschein does not automatically mean accepting the inheritance. If you want to disclaim the inheritance, you have 6 weeks from the time you become aware of it.

If the estate is over-indebted: disclaiming the inheritance at the probate court (cost approx. 30 €) is cheaper than an Erbschein for a negative inheritance!

Legal background: what the certificate of inheritance does

The Erbschein is a certificate issued by the probate court on the right of inheritance and the size of each share (section 2353 BGB). It carries public faith (section 2366 BGB): anyone who buys from or pays an heir named in the certificate is protected in good faith. That is why land registries and banks ask for it so often. If it later turns out to be wrong, the court withdraws it (section 2361 BGB). The application is made at the probate court, and the required details are set out in section 352 of the Act on Proceedings in Family Matters (FamFG). They include the death certificate, details of the family relationship and the sworn affirmation.

How is the value of the estate determined?

What counts is the value of the estate at the time of death, reduced by the estate’s liabilities (section 40 GNotKG). Property is valued at market value, bank accounts and securities at the balance on the date of death. Debts such as loans or funeral costs reduce the value. If you do not know the values, work out rough figures first, because the court can ask for an advance payment. An overestimated value causes higher fees, while a value stated too low may lead to additional charges. If only one co-heir applies for a partial certificate, the fee is based on the value of his or her share, which often lowers the costs considerably.

Notarial will or certificate? A worked example

With assets of €500,000, heirs pay about €2,050 in total for the certificate according to the table above. Someone who makes a notarial will during their lifetime pays a single 1.0 fee for it – €935 at this value plus VAT – and later a flat €100 for opening it. The overall burden is clearly lower, not least because the heirs do not pay a second fee for the sworn affirmation. According to the case law of the Federal Court of Justice (judgment of 8 October 2013, XI ZR 401/12), banks may not routinely demand a certificate of inheritance where an opened notarial will clearly shows who the heirs are. The land registry, too, generally accepts a public will with the opening record (section 35 of the Land Registry Code, GBO).

Duties after a death

Anyone holding a will of the deceased must hand it to the probate court without delay once they learn of the death (section 2259 BGB). This applies even if you think the will is invalid. Regardless of the certificate, keep an eye on deadlines: the six-week period for disclaiming the inheritance and the duty to notify the tax office of the acquisition. Inheritance tax is assessed separately; the allowances are, for example, €500,000 for a spouse and €400,000 per child (section 16 ErbStG). The cost of the certificate often counts as an estate liability and therefore reduces the inheritance.

Conclusion: the costs you have to expect

Small estates (up to 50,000 €): 200–400 € total costs
Medium estates (100,000–300,000 €): 600–1,200 €
Large estates (500,000 €+): 2,000–5,000 €

The Erbschein is often more expensive than expected – so always check whether a notarial will or a bank power of attorney can avoid the costs. Anyone who applies for the Erbschein themselves at the probate court at least saves the VAT on the notary fee – the two 1.0 fees under Table B apply in both cases.