Bank Account Frozen After Death in Germany

The moment a German bank learns that an account holder has died, they freeze everything. Sole accounts, joint "and" accounts (Undkonto), savings accounts, investment accounts — all locked. No withdrawals, no transfers, no balance enquiries. The surviving spouse can't access the money. The adult children can't access the money. Nobody can, until they prove they're legally entitled to it.

This happens because of German banking secrecy rules and the risk of paying the wrong person. And for English-speaking families who may not even know which banks the deceased used, it creates an immediate cash crisis at the worst possible moment.

How to Unfreeze the Accounts

There are three routes to accessing frozen bank accounts in Germany, ranked from fastest to slowest:

1. Post-Mortem Power of Attorney (Vollmacht) — Fastest

If the deceased set up a bank-specific power of attorney that extends beyond death, the authorised person can access accounts immediately. This comes in two forms:

• Transmortale Vollmacht: Valid during the person's life and continues after death
• Postmortale Vollmacht: Only becomes active after death

Either one bypasses the need for a probate court certificate entirely. The authorised person walks into the bank with the Vollmacht, the death certificate, and their own ID. Access is restored on the spot.

The problem: most people never set this up, and you can't create one after someone has died.

2. Notarised Will with Court Opening Protocol — Weeks

If the deceased left a notarised will (notarielles Testament) or inheritance contract (Erbvertrag), German banks are legally required to accept it as proof of heirship — but only after the probate court has officially opened it. The court issues an opening protocol (Eröffnungsprotokoll), which you present alongside the certified will.

This typically takes 2–6 weeks after the probate court receives the will. It's significantly faster and cheaper than obtaining a full Erbschein.

Important: handwritten wills (handschriftliches Testament) do not qualify. Banks will not accept them as standalone proof, even with a court opening protocol. You'll need an Erbschein instead.

3. Certificate of Inheritance (Erbschein) — Months

The Erbschein is the standard proof of heirship issued by the probate court (Nachlassgericht). It takes 2–6 months for straightforward cases, longer when heirs are abroad or inheritance is contested.

The application requires a notarised declaration in lieu of an oath (Eidesstattliche Versicherung) about the family tree and the absence of other claimants. Fees scale with the estate value under the GNotKG fee schedule — for example, a €100,000 estate costs €546 in court fees; a €200,000 estate costs €1,210.

For heirs living outside Germany, the declaration can sometimes be executed at a German consulate or embassy (signature certification fee: approximately €60) rather than travelling to Germany.

The Funeral Bill Exception

Even with frozen accounts, most German banks will release funds to pay for the funeral if the family presents:

• The original funeral director's invoice
• The medical death certificate (Todesbescheinigung)
• Proof of relationship to the deceased

This is an informal practice, not a legal right — but it's widely followed because funeral costs are a priority liability of the estate under German law. Ask the bank directly and bring the paperwork. If the first bank employee refuses, escalate to a branch manager.

Finding Unknown Accounts

If you don't know where the deceased banked, you can request a nationwide account search through the Federal Central Tax Office (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern). German financial institutions are required to report account holder information to this central register. The request must come from someone with a legitimate legal interest — typically the heirs or their legal representative — and you'll need a death certificate and proof of heirship to submit the request.

Protecting Yourself

Remember that under German universal succession (§1922 BGB), heirs inherit both assets and debts. Before spending effort unlocking bank accounts, make sure the estate isn't overindebted. If debts exceed assets, you may want to disclaim the inheritance rather than inherit the liability. The disclaimer deadline is six weeks (domestic) or six months (from abroad).

The Someone Died in Germany: English Speaker's Emergency Guide includes an asset inventory worksheet, a bank notification letter template, and the step-by-step process for obtaining an Erbschein from abroad.

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