ErbenakteOne heir does all the work: does it count when the estate is divided?
Checked on 11.11.2026
Translated from German. Where anything differs, the German text counts: Deutsche Fassung
A daughter cared for her mother for years and now sees to the house, the authorities and the tradespeople. Her siblings live far away. Is none of that to count when the estate is divided?
What generally applies
- Work for the estate. Whoever takes on tasks for everyone after the death does so, at first, as a co-heir. Whether compensation can be claimed for it depends on what was agreed and what exactly was done.
- Care before the death. For descendants who cared for the deceased for a long time or preserved their assets, the law provides for an adjustment when the estate is divided (§ 2057a BGB). Whether it applies in your case, and how much, is for a lawyer to assess.
What helps
- Record what was done. Appointments, trips, phone calls, tradespeople, with dates. What is not written down is easily played down later, even without bad intent.
- Talk about it early. Whether and how the work should be compensated is easier to discuss before the division is on the table.
- Share out tasks. Some things can be done from afar: cancelling contracts, writing to insurers, getting quotes.