Applying for a German Erbschein from Turkey — How Remote Heirs Access German Assets

When Turkish Heirs Need a German Erbschein

When a Turkish national dies in Germany and leaves assets in the country — a bank account, real property, a vehicle, an investment portfolio — the institutions holding those assets require proof of entitlement. Under Article 14 of the 1929 German-Turkish Consular Agreement, a Turkish court-issued Veraset İlamı is legally sufficient for an estate consisting only of German movable assets, such as a bank account or vehicle. For German real estate, Article 17 requires a German certificate of inheritance (Erbschein) issued by the competent Nachlassgericht (probate court).

A Turkish Veraset İlamı used under the Article 14 movable-asset route must be translated into German and carry a Hague Apostille. It does not replace an Erbschein for German real estate. A German Erbschein has no legal force in Turkey; Turkish assets require a Turkish certificate of inheritance.

Which Court Has Jurisdiction

The competent Nachlassgericht is the one at the deceased's last habitual residence in Germany. If the deceased lived in Munich, the Nachlassgericht München handles the application. If the deceased had no habitual residence in Germany (for example, a tourist), confirm the competent German probate court with the Nachlassgericht or a German mission in Turkey before filing.

Applying Remotely from Turkey

Heirs do not need to be physically present in Germany to apply for an Erbschein. The application can be submitted through the German Embassy or a German Consulate in Turkey. The consular officer takes the application in person, notarizes the required statutory declaration (eidesstattliche Versicherung), and forwards everything to the competent Nachlassgericht.

The statutory declaration is the sworn statement in which each heir affirms their relationship to the deceased, their knowledge of the deceased's last will (if any), and their awareness of other potential heirs. Giving a false declaration is a criminal offense under German law, punishable by up to three years' imprisonment.

Required Documents

The application must include:

• The Formül C death certificate or standard Sterbeurkunde
• The deceased's birth certificate and marriage certificate (with sworn German translations if not in multilingual CIEC format)
• The applicant's own identity documents and proof of relationship to the deceased
• Any testamentary documents (wills, inheritance contracts) if they exist
• A list of known heirs and their contact details

For Turkish citizens applying through the 1929 German-Turkish Consular Treaty, the applicable succession law depends on asset type. Movable assets (bank accounts, vehicles, securities) follow the national law of the deceased — Turkish law. Immovable assets (real estate) follow the law of the country where the property is located — German law. The Nachlassgericht applies these rules when determining who inherits and in what shares.

Processing Timeline

There is no single processing time. Missing or incorrectly translated civil status documents, or a request for additional evidence — for example, proof that no will exists — can extend the process.

Once issued, the Erbschein is valid indefinitely. Heirs present it to German banks and institutions to unblock accounts, transfer real property, and close the deceased's financial affairs in Germany.

Cost

The Nachlassgericht charges a fee based on the estate's value, calculated according to the German Court Fees Act (GNotKG). The amount depends on the estate's value; confirm the current fee with the Nachlassgericht. For estates involving real property, the fee scales with the property's assessed value.

The Turkish Dies in Germany — Family Guide covers the dual-track probate process — Erbschein in Germany and Veraset İlamı in Turkey — with document checklists and a timeline tracker for managing both proceedings in parallel.