German Association for Inheritance Law and Asset Succession

The Deutsche Vereinigung für Erbrecht und Vermögensnachfolge e. V. (DVEV) is a German registered association that brings together professional groups working primarily in the field of inheritance law. Its seat is in Angelbachtal near Heidelberg. The association was founded in 1995 and has grown into a network of more than 2,000 members, the largest share of whom are lawyers, specialised inheritance lawyers (Fachanwälte für Erbrecht) and notaries. Its membership also includes tax advisers, auditors, experts, estate administrators and heir researchers. DVEV members can be found not only in Germany but also in Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and the United States. The DVEV pursues two equally ranked statutory goals. On the one hand it promotes and supports its members — lawyers, tax advisers and related professions active in inheritance law and asset succession — through information publications, an e-mail newsletter, continuing-education events and specialist courses, as well as cooperation with other associations and business partners. On the other hand it informs the general public about topics such as giving, inheriting and bequeathing, powers of attorney for precautionary matters and living wills. The association issues statements on legislative initiatives in inheritance law and conducts surveys, including the representative 2006 survey 'Erbrechtliche Vorsorge in Deutschland'. A central pillar of the DVEV's work is professional training. Since 1997 it has held the annual two-day German Inheritance Law Symposium in Heidelberg, and since the same year it has offered continuing-education events and seminars, both online and in person at various locations nationwide. In 2003 it introduced specialisation courses on inheritance law and asset succession, which paved the way for the protected professional title 'Fachanwalt für Erbrecht'. Since 1 July 2005 that title has been awarded by the regional bar associations under the Specialist Lawyers' Code (Fachanwaltsordnung). Since 2005 the DVEV has run courses for the Fachanwalt für Erbrecht in cooperation with the Deutsche Anwaltakademie and the inheritance law working group of the German Lawyers' Association. In 2009 the DVEV joined with its sister associations Deutsche Vermögensschutzgemeinschaft e. V. (DVSG) and Deutsche Interessengemeinschaft für Erbrecht und Vermögensvorsorge e. V. (DIGEV) to form the Verbund Erbrecht. Through cooperation with DVSG, DVEV members offer discounted initial inheritance-law consultations to DVSG members, while the DIGEV network enables DVEV members to work with non-profit organisations operating nationwide. The DVEV also maintains partnerships with business and other partners in Germany. As a publisher and knowledge provider, the DVEV is associated with the monthly journal Zeitschrift für die Steuer- und Erbrechtspraxis (ZErb), published by Zerb-Verlag, which serves as its members' journal. Together with Zerb-Verlag it produces the DVEV-Schriftenreihe, a series of treatises and handbooks written by inheritance-law practitioners for practitioners. It also offers information brochures for those seeking advice, such as 'Erbrecht verständlich' and 'Patientenverfügung/Vorsorgevollmacht/Betreuungsverfügung', and sends out the monthly press release 'DVEV-Ratgeber Erbrecht' by e-mail to inform the press nationwide about important inheritance-law issues and current supreme-court decisions.

The Deutsche Vereinigung für Erbrecht und Vermögensnachfolge e. V. (DVEV) was founded in 1995 as an association of professional groups working primarily in inheritance law in Germany. Its seat is in Angelbachtal near Heidelberg. From the outset the association combined two purposes: supporting the professionals who deal with inheritance law and asset succession, and informing the general public about giving, inheriting and bequeathing, powers of attorney for precautionary matters and living wills. In 1997 the DVEV held the first German Inheritance Law Symposium (Deutsches Erbrecht-Symposium), which has since taken place annually. In the same year it began offering inheritance-law continuing-education events for DVEV members, which are also open to non-members. These events have since been held both online and in person at various locations nationwide, with a focus on inheritance law and related legal fields. Participants receive confirmation of attendance for submission to the notarial and bar chambers or supervisory authorities, in view of the general continuing-education obligation for notaries and Fachanwälte für Erbrecht under § 15 FAO. A decisive development came in 2003 with the introduction of specialisation courses on inheritance law and asset succession. These courses paved the way for the protected professional title 'Fachanwalt für Erbrecht'. Since 1 July 2005 that title has been awarded by the regional bar associations in accordance with the Fachanwaltsordnung (Specialist Lawyers' Code). Since 2005 the DVEV has conducted courses for the Fachanwalt für Erbrecht in cooperation with the Deutsche Anwaltakademie and the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Erbrecht of the Deutscher Anwaltverein. To obtain the specialist title under the FAO, a lawyer must demonstrate particular practical experience and particular theoretical knowledge; the DVEV courses convey theoretical knowledge covering all relevant areas of inheritance law. In 2006 the DVEV commissioned the representative population survey 'Erbrechtliche Vorsorge in Deutschland' (Inheritance-law provision in Germany), carried out by Institut Hommerich Forschung, Bergisch Gladbach. Its aim was to examine the behaviour of the population of the Federal Republic of Germany with regard to inheritance-law provision. The survey dealt in detail with the drawing up of a will or inheritance contract, the use of legal advice, the creation of powers of attorney for precautionary matters and legal advice about them, and awareness of the DVEV. In 2009 the DVEV joined with its sister associations Deutsche Vermögensschutzgemeinschaft e. V. (DVSG) and Deutsche Interessengemeinschaft für Erbrecht und Vermögensvorsorge e. V. (DIGEV) to form the Verbund Erbrecht. Through cooperation with DVSG, DVEV members offer discounted initial inheritance-law consultations to DVSG members seeking advice. The DIGEV network enables DVEV members to cooperate with non-profit organisations operating nationwide. The DVEV is also connected in Germany with partners from business and other areas; cooperation covers the association's goals, support for the professional group of lawyers and related professions, and informing the public about giving, inheriting and bequeathing, powers of attorney for precautionary matters and living wills. Over the years the DVEV has built a substantial publishing and information programme. The monthly Zeitschrift für die Steuer- und Erbrechtspraxis (ZErb), published by Zerb-Verlag, is the members' journal and reports on current developments in inheritance law and tax law, including a case-law report, a practice forum, a literature section, model forms for practice, drafting guidance and checklists. In cooperation with Zerb-Verlag the DVEV-Schriftenreihe was created, containing treatises and handbooks on inheritance law written by inheritance-law practitioners for inheritance-law practitioners. For those seeking advice the DVEV offers information brochures such as 'Erbrecht verständlich' and 'Patientenverfügung/Vorsorgevollmacht/Betreuungsverfügung'. Once a month it sends out the press release 'DVEV-Ratgeber Erbrecht' by e-mail, informing the press nationwide about important inheritance-law problems and current supreme-court decisions. By the time of the German Wikipedia article, the association had more than 2,000 members, the largest part of them lawyers, Fachanwälte für Erbrecht and notaries, alongside tax advisers, auditors, experts, estate administrators and heir researchers. DVEV members are also found in Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and the United States.

• 2009

  The DVEV joins with DVSG and DIGEV to form the Verbund Erbrecht.

• 2006

  The representative survey 'Erbrechtliche Vorsorge in Deutschland' is conducted by Institut Hommerich Forschung.

• 2005

  From 1 July the title 'Fachanwalt für Erbrecht' is awarded by the regional bar associations under the FAO; the DVEV begins running Fachanwalt courses with the Deutsche Anwaltakademie.

• 2003

  Specialisation courses on inheritance law and asset succession are introduced, paving the way for the protected title 'Fachanwalt für Erbrecht'.

• 1997

  The first German Inheritance Law Symposium (Deutsches Erbrecht-Symposium) is held; annual inheritance-law continuing-education events for members begin.

• 1995

  The DVEV is founded as an association of professional groups working primarily in inheritance law in Germany.

Professional association and training/knowledge network for inheritance law and asset succession practitioners in Germany, combining member services, specialist qualification courses and public information.

• Deutsches Erbrecht-Symposium

  Two-day annual symposium held in Heidelberg since 1997, open to members and non-members, providing a framework for contacts, professional exchange and further training.

• Lehrgänge zum Fachanwalt für Erbrecht

  Courses run since 2005 with the Deutsche Anwaltakademie and the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Erbrecht of the Deutscher Anwaltverein, conveying theoretical knowledge covering all relevant areas of inheritance law.

• ZErb – Zeitschrift für die Steuer- und Erbrechtspraxis

  Monthly members' journal published by Zerb-Verlag, covering current developments in inheritance and tax law, with case-law report, practice forum, literature section, model forms, drafting guidance and checklists.

• DVEV-Schriftenreihe

  Book series created with Zerb-Verlag, containing treatises and handbooks on inheritance law written by practitioners for practitioners.

• Informationsbroschüren

  Information brochures for those seeking advice, such as 'Erbrecht verständlich' and 'Patientenverfügung/Vorsorgevollmacht/Betreuungsverfügung'.

• DVEV-Ratgeber Erbrecht

  Monthly press release sent by e-mail, informing the press nationwide about important inheritance-law problems and current supreme-court decisions.

1. 1Deutsche Vereinigung für Erbrecht und Vermögensnachfolge – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
2. 2Deutsche Vereinigung für Erbrecht und Vermögensnachfolge – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3DVEV official websiteerbrecht.de