ADD HOLSTEIN Erbenermittlung in Austria

Commercial probate research exists for over 100 years. Probate investigators are used when an estate exists but the persons entitled to inherit are unknown. This is particularly the case if there is no will and no close relatives are known.

We usually only handle cases involving estates of several thousand euros or more. Unfortunately, it is often impossible to carry out a comprehensive investigation for lower amounts.

As a matter of principle, we do not work over-indebted estates.

We carry out extensive searches in archives, cemeteries, churches and genealogical databases for the deceased's closest living relatives. Our aim is to find all heirs. Rarely is there only one person entitled to inherit. In Europe, many documents were destroyed in wars and the fates of many people are therefore very difficult to trace.

Researching beneficiaries is therefore only possible with a great deal of expertise and experience. Nevertheless, our research often takes several years, as all family relationships have to be documented.

Research or document assignments are often required abroad. We have an extensive, worldwide network of correspondents at our disposal.

In many cases, the search in Austria alone is not sufficient to find all persons entitled to inherit. For this reason, we have a large international network of partner offices. Our local colleagues specialise in researching the archives of their countries, reconstructing family relationships and providing evidence. As many documents were destroyed in wars, they also rely on secondary documents such as church records or land registers. This international research is indispensable for our work.

Usually, the living descendants of the grandparents or, in some countries, the great-grandparents of the deceased, are entitled to inherit. Our task is to work our way from document to document through extensive archive and database research until we are able to reconstruct the family tree. Through research at residents' registration offices and registry offices, we then find the contact details of the persons entitled to inherit, often after months of endeavour. In many cases, they did not know the deceased.

Probate research companies invest a lot of time and effort in researching family relationships. In order to receive appropriate remuneration for our work, we conclude a fee agreement with the heirs we find, according to which we are entitled to a certain percentage of the respective inheritance share as a success fee in the event of success. Of course, we only receive this fee if we succeed in enforcing your claim on your behalf. We bear the entire economic risk. If we do not succeed in enforcing your claim, we do not receive a fee for our work.