German inheritance law in the international context

German probate courts apply German inheritance law if the deceased was a German citizen. Should the deceased have been a foreigner his respective national law will be accepted and applied by the German courts.

However, foreign legal systems often refer for the decision of the governing inheritance law not to the nationality of the deceased but to his permanent last residence or the location of the estate. As a result, it may occur that the home law of the deceased requires the application of German inheritance law.