Law & Courts
How long does an Erbschein take?
Estimated wait
21 days – 6 months
Typically ~2 months
Based on published sources
Timeline guide
- Faster cases~47 days
- Average cases~2 months
- Slower casesUp to 6 months
Do not confuse the Erbschein processing time with the Ausschlagungsfrist — the separate 6-week deadline to disclaim (refuse) an inheritance. Official portals give no fixed number; delays well beyond the typical range are common under heavy court workload.
In straightforward cases the probate court (Nachlassgericht) typically issues a certificate of inheritance (Erbschein) in about 4–12 weeks, and a few very simple cases in 2–3 weeks. But delays are common: a 2025 survey by the German Bar Association found that even in undisputed cases around 40% take longer than 6 months, and contested cases run over a year in about 70% of instances.
More details
The time depends heavily on the court's workload and on how complete your documents and the estate details are. Official city portals deliberately publish no fixed duration, calling it "case-dependent".
Last updated: 10 Jul 2026
Information is for general knowledge only.