{"id":35515,"date":"2025-06-20T14:36:58","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T12:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/unworthiness-to-inherit\/"},"modified":"2025-11-24T20:12:32","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T19:12:32","slug":"unworthiness-to-inherit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/inheritance-law-estate-planning\/unworthiness-to-inherit\/","title":{"rendered":"Unworthiness to Inherit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Unworthiness to Inherit<br><\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-was-ist-die-erbunwurdigkeit\" data-level=\"2\">What is Unworthiness to Inherit?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-grunde-der-erbunwurdigkeit\" data-level=\"2\">Grounds for Unworthiness to Inherit<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-absolute-erbunwurdigkeitsgrunde\" data-level=\"3\">Absolute Grounds for Unworthiness to Inherit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-relative-erbunwurdigkeitsgrunde\" data-level=\"3\">Relative Grounds for Unworthiness to Inherit<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-beurteilungszeitpunkt-der-erbunwurdigkeit\" data-level=\"2\">Time of Assessment for Unworthiness to Inherit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-folgen-der-erbunwurdigkeit\" data-level=\"2\">Consequences of Unworthiness to Inherit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-wirkungen-der-erbunwurdigkeit-auf-die-nachkommen-des-erbunwurdigen\" data-level=\"2\">Effects of Unworthiness to Inherit on the Descendants of the Unworthy Heir<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-verzeihung-der-erbunwurdigkeit\" data-level=\"2\">Forgiveness of Unworthiness to Inherit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-faq-haufig-gestellte-fragen\" data-level=\"2\">FAQ &#8211; Frequently Asked Questions?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-230729da alignfull uagb-is-root-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-85c3dfe5\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Austrian law, unworthiness to inherit constitutes a ground for exclusion from inheritance rights. It applies when a person stands in a certain relationship to the deceased and has committed serious misconduct against them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unworthiness to inherit arises by operation of law. Therefore, it does not need to be stipulated in the will. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-71833dd7\"><picture>\n\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Erbunwuerdigkeit-1-352x198.webp\" >\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mr-picture-small\" src=\"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Erbunwuerdigkeit-1.webp\" alt=\"In Austrian law, unworthiness to inherit constitutes a ground for exclusion from inheritance rights. Learn more about unworthiness to inherit with us.\" >\n\t<\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-was-ist-die-erbunwurdigkeit\">What is Unworthiness to Inherit?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unworthiness to inherit represents a special ground for exclusion in Austrian inheritance law. A person who has behaved grossly contrary to duty towards the testator may lose their right to inherit \u2013 both within the scope of statutory and testamentary succession. This particularly affects the acceptance of inheritance, legacies, and forced heirship claims.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a legally recognized ground for unworthiness to inherit occurs, the affected person loses their status as heir <strong>ipso iure<\/strong>, i.e., automatically.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> However, unworthiness to inherit must be asserted by other parties involved.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-grunde-der-erbunwurdigkeit\">Grounds for Unworthiness to Inherit<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The law distinguishes between two groups of grounds for unworthiness to inherit: absolute and relative. Both categories aim to protect confidence in inheritance law and prevent unfair advantages. <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-absolute-erbunwurdigkeitsgrunde\">Absolute Grounds for Unworthiness to Inherit<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Certain actions lead to unworthiness to inherit regardless of the individual case. These primarily include criminal acts against the testator or the estate that can only be committed intentionally and are punishable by more than one year of imprisonment (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ris.bka.gv.at\/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&amp;Gesetzesnummer=10001622&amp;Artikel=&amp;Paragraf=539&amp;Anlage=&amp;Uebergangsrecht=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u00a7 539 ABGB<\/a>). A mere attempt is already sufficient. A conviction is not required.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These include, for example:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Violence or threats against the testator<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deception in the execution of a will<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Suppression or forgery of a will<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serious criminal offenses against the deceased<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-relative-erbunwurdigkeitsgrunde\">Relative Grounds for Unworthiness to Inherit<\/h3>\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Relative Grounds (Depending on the Individual Case):<\/h4>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These apply only if the deceased could no longer react themselves (e.g., due to illness, testamentary incapacity, or ignorance of the relevant circumstances):<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Criminal offenses against close relatives of the deceased<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Psychological cruelty towards the testator<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gross breaches of duty in the parent-child relationship<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-beurteilungszeitpunkt-der-erbunwurdigkeit\">Time of Assessment for Unworthiness to Inherit<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The capacity to inherit is generally assessed at the time of the testator&#8217;s death according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ris.bka.gv.at\/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&amp;Gesetzesnummer=10001622&amp;Artikel=&amp;Paragraf=543&amp;Anlage=&amp;Uebergangsrecht=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u00a7 543 ABGB<\/a>. In certain exceptional cases, subsequent unworthiness to inherit may arise. This is the case, for example, if a person commits a criminal act against the estate after the accrual of inheritance or thwarts the true will of the deceased.  <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-folgen-der-erbunwurdigkeit\">Consequences of Unworthiness to Inherit<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The unworthy person:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>is legally treated as if they had <strong>not survived the testator<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>may <strong>inherit nothing<\/strong> (not even a forced heirship share or a legacy)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a class=\"mr-cta-link mr-cta-button-cal\" href=\"#h2-booking\" title=\"Free initial consultation\"><span class=\"mr-cta-link-normal\">Select your preferred appointment now:<\/span><span class=\"mr-cta-link-bold\">Free initial consultation<\/span><\/a>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-wirkungen-der-nbsp-erbunwurdigkeit-nbsp-auf-die-nachkommen-des-erbunwurdigen\">Effects of Unworthiness to Inherit on the Descendants of the Unworthy Heir<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Children of an unworthy person <strong>can inherit<\/strong> if they themselves are not unworthy to inherit. They step into the inheritance position of their parent. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Note:<\/strong> This only applies if there is no waiver of forced heirship share or disinheritance.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-verzeihung-der-erbunwurdigkeit\">Forgiveness of Unworthiness to Inherit<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unworthiness to inherit can be lifted by the testator&#8217;s forgiveness. This can be done expressly, for example, in the form of a testamentary disposition, or implicitly. The forgiveness must clearly indicate the testator&#8217;s will to overlook the misconduct.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Subsequent forgiveness irrevocably removes unworthiness to inherit. In cases where the criminal act against the estate was committed after death or a will was suppressed, forgiveness is naturally excluded. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faq-haufig-gestellte-fragen\">FAQ &#8211; Frequently Asked Questions?<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq uagb-faq__outer-wrap uagb-block-3be8b3bb uagb-faq-icon-row uagb-faq-layout-accordion uagb-faq-expand-first-true uagb-faq-inactive-other-true uagb-faq__wrap uagb-buttons-layout-wrap uagb-faq-equal-height     \" data-faqtoggle=\"true\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-b6281b3a \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\">When should I assert unworthiness to inherit?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>As soon as you have indications of serious misconduct towards the testator.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-748e1709 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\">Is a court judgment required?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>No, but it is usually necessary to legally enforce unworthiness to inherit.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-73ab4c92 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\">Can I defend myself against the accusation of unworthiness to inherit?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>Yes. There are legal means to defend yourself. We would be happy to assist you with this.  <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In Austrian law, unworthiness to inherit constitutes a ground for exclusion from inheritance rights. It applies when a person stands in a certain relationship to the deceased and has committed &#8230;","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":25392,"parent":40710,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[328],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35515","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inheritance-law"],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Erbunwuerdigkeit-1.webp",1920,1080,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Erbunwuerdigkeit-1-100x100.webp",100,100,true],"medium":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Erbunwuerdigkeit-1-800x450.webp",800,450,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Erbunwuerdigkeit-1.webp",1920,1080,false],"large":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Erbunwuerdigkeit-1.webp",1920,1080,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Erbunwuerdigkeit-1.webp",1536,864,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Erbunwuerdigkeit-1.webp",1920,1080,false],"336x":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Erbunwuerdigkeit-1-336x189.webp",336,189,true],"352x":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Erbunwuerdigkeit-1-352x198.webp",352,198,true],"woocommerce_thumbnail":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Erbunwuerdigkeit-1-300x300.webp",300,300,true],"woocommerce_single":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Erbunwuerdigkeit-1-600x338.webp",600,338,true],"woocommerce_gallery_thumbnail":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Erbunwuerdigkeit-1-100x100.webp",100,100,true],"yarpp-thumbnail":["https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Erbunwuerdigkeit-1-120x120.webp",120,120,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Simon Prem","author_link":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/author\/simon-prem\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"In Austrian law, unworthiness to inherit constitutes a ground for exclusion from inheritance rights. It applies when a person stands in a certain relationship to the deceased and has committed ...","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35515","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35515"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35515\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/40710"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35515"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harlander-partner.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}