Last Will and Testament: Certified Translation for International Estates
Settling an international estate means your will must be understood by German probate courts, foreign banks, and authorities abroad. A certified translation by a vereidigter Übersetzer ensures your final wishes are legally recognized across borders. We deliver your translation first, then you pay.
Your personal quote by email within minutes
Why does it need to be certified?
In Germany, official translations must be done by a vereidigter Übersetzer, a translator officially sworn in by a German court. When you submit a foreign will to the Nachlassgericht (probate court) or present a German will to authorities abroad, only a certified translation carries legal weight. The translator's stamp and signature confirm the translation is complete and accurate, which is essential for inheritance proceedings involving assets in multiple countries.
Your path to a certified will translation
Send your document
Upload or email a clear scan or photo of your will. The original stays safely with you or with the notary who holds it.
Receive your quote
Within a few hours, you receive a personal quote by email with a transparent fixed price based on your specific document.
Confirm with one click
Your quote email includes a confirmation button. One click and your sworn translator begins work immediately.
Receive your translation
In 3 to 6 business days, you receive the certified translation as PDF by email. The stamped and signed original follows by post.
Pay at your convenience
The invoice arrives with your translation. You have 14 days to pay by bank transfer, only after you have received everything.
When you need a certified will translation
Cross-border inheritances involve courts, banks, and notaries in multiple countries. Each institution needs to understand the testator's wishes in their own language. Here are the most common situations where a certified translation becomes essential.
Applying for a German Erbschein
When a foreign will must be presented to the German Nachlassgericht (probate court) to obtain a certificate of inheritance.
Estate settlement abroad
German nationals with property or bank accounts in Spain, France, or other countries need their German will translated for foreign notaries and courts.
Binational families planning ahead
Couples with different nationalities who move between EU countries need translated wills to clarify which law applies under the EU Succession Regulation.
International banks releasing assets
Banks and investment firms abroad often require a certified translation before transferring funds or closing accounts belonging to the deceased.
What we need from you
To translate your will quickly and accurately, please provide the following:
- A clear scan or photo of the complete will, including all pages and any handwritten additions
- The target language (German, English, French, Spanish, or other)
- Information about where you will use the translation (helps us advise on apostille requirements)
- Any notarial certification or court stamps that appear on the original
Good to know
You do not need to send the original will. German authorities accept translations made from scans or certified copies. The translator notes in the certification that the translation was made from a copy. This is standard practice and protects your valuable original document.
Understanding international inheritance law
Since August 2015, the EU Succession Regulation determines which country's inheritance law applies when someone dies with assets in multiple EU member states. By default, the law of the country where the deceased had their habitual residence applies. However, a will can include a choice-of-law clause selecting the law of your nationality instead.
For example, a British citizen living in Germany could specify in their will that British law should govern their estate, not German law with its Pflichtteil (forced heirship) rules. This choice must be clearly stated in the will, and a certified translation ensures that probate courts in every relevant country understand the testator's intention. The German Foreign Ministry provides guidance on cross-border estate matters.
Common mistake to avoid
Many expats assume their home country's law will automatically apply to their estate. Without a proper choice-of-law clause in your will, the country where you live determines everything. If you have moved abroad, review your will and consider having it translated and updated with proper legal advice.
Do I need an apostille?
Whether you need an Apostille depends on where the translation will be used:
- For use within Germany: No apostille needed. The certified translation alone is sufficient for the Nachlassgericht and German banks.
- For use in Hague Convention countries: An apostille on the notarized will or the translator's signature may be required. We can advise based on your destination country.
- For use in non-Hague countries: Full legalization through the embassy may be necessary.
The requirements vary by country. Spanish authorities, for instance, have different expectations than French notaries. When you request your quote, let us know where you plan to use the translation, and we will advise you on the specific requirements. For more details on international will requirements, see this guide on international will validity.
Need your will translation soon?
Individual price based on your document
Your questions answered
Most will translations are completed in 3 to 6 business days. The exact time depends on the length of your document and the language combination. If you need an apostille, plan for a few additional days. We send the PDF by email as soon as it is ready, and the stamped original follows by post.
Yes, a clear scan or photo is sufficient. You should never send original testamentary documents by post. The translator notes in the certification that the translation was made from a copy. German courts and authorities accept this standard practice.
Yes. Our translations are made by sworn translators officially recognized by German courts. The translation includes the translator's stamp, signature, and registration number, exactly as the Nachlassgericht requires. If any questions arise, we support you directly.
You pay only after you receive your translation. The invoice arrives together with the completed work, and you have 14 days to pay by bank transfer. No prepayment is required. Your translation is in your hands before any payment is due.
Handwritten wills, known as eigenhändiges Testament in Germany, are common and fully translatable. Please ensure your scan is clear and legible. If any passages are difficult to read, note this when you submit your document, and our translator will contact you to clarify before completing the work.
Often needed together
Death Certificate
Required alongside the will for every inheritance proceeding, whether in Germany or abroad.
Land Registry Extract
Essential when real estate in Germany or another country is part of the estate.
Birth Certificate
Often requested to prove family relationships between the deceased and the heirs.
Your certified will translation, ready for any probate court
Hold the completed translation in your hands. Check that every clause is clear. Then, and only then, you pay.
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