The Right Words for the Expression of Sympathy: Speech to Wreath Choice

Finding the right words is very difficult, especially in a bereavement. No matter whether it is a funeral card, the inscription of a wreath ribbon or a funeral speech. The words should be chosen tactfully and carefully to pay the deceased the necessary honor. For those who find the choice of words difficult, we offer support and give some examples and tips for the appropriate words as a funeral service.

Pay Attention to the Level of Relationship to the Deceased

In order to find the right words and gestures in the case of bereavement, one should first of all be clear about the relationship one had with the deceased. It may well make a difference whether the basis of the expression of mourning was a rather business or clearly personal relationship. For example, surviving relatives do not expect profound thoughts when expressing sympathy if the deceased and the mourner had a purely business relationship. In this case, the standardized phrases (“With great dismay…”, “Deeply saddened I was…” etc.) may be used in the card text without any problems.

More demanding and also accompanied by the corresponding expectations of the relatives are condolences based on a previously very personal relationship with the deceased. For both sides – the immediate family of the deceased and the conductors – memories of shared experiences play a major role and influence the content and form of what is said.

But it can also be a great help for the conductor to find the right words and to fall back on the personal relationship with the deceased. The beginning of the conversation with the bereaved, even a speech or written condolences can help us to remember these personal encounters. Often, the right words and thoughts arise from these encounters, even without “outside” help.

The Introduction – Mourning and Salutation

And yet: It is often the moment of mourning that is the hardest. A funeral oration can be started well with a tactful funeral proclamation, condolence or condolences. Sayings of this kind deal with the topic of mourning, death, parting or loss. They are always empathetic and encourage reflection and contemplation.

For the entrance into a mourning procession it is however quite alright to begin with an important sentence or thought of the deceased, which remained in good memory to the conducting person. In this way, a personal bridge is immediately built between the deceased, the immediate bereaved and the speaker.

In the context of the later following personal words of condolence reference can be made to this saying. Afterwards follows the address of the mourning family. If there is a personal relationship to them, they should be adressed directly with their first name. More details: inheritance guide. Some formulations, which are well suitable as salutation, are for example love mourning family, love mourners, love family Mayer, …

The Words of Condolence – Personal Stories and Words of Condolence

After the salutation, the words of condolence should follow directly. Here the topic death can be adressed directly, but also personal memories of the deceased can be mentioned. Together experienced moments, small stories or anecdotes about the life of the deceased or simply the deep expression of grief. It is important to show the mourning family that the loss was also very painful for you, but that the memories, love and experiences are much stronger than death. Make sure to remain tactful and choose your formulations wisely. It helps to make some notes about the content of the speech before you start.

Stay True to Yourself

Many people are tempted to pretend to be sadder, more pious, more affected by expressions of sympathy than they really are. The reason for this attitude is often that the person conducting the conduction believes that a certain mourning attitude is expected of him. But the opposite is the case: whoever has not presented himself as a particularly spiritual person in his previous relationship with the deceased and the bereaved should not suddenly appear “more papal than the pope” in his words of condolence.

The basic rule is: Even in the event of a bereavement and with condolences, remain authentic. The person conducting the condolence should remain true to himself and his kind. Thus, a person who is fundamentally fun-loving and who has always met the deceased with humor and lightness may also take this attitude when expressing his or her condolences. Provided that one is really serious about this lightness. As a rule, people can sense very well whether their counterpart is really serious – even in the case of bereavement.

Grave and Wreath Ribbon – the Right Choice of Words

In the event of a bereavement, it is common for close family members, relatives and good friends to buy a wreath in memory of the deceased. For this purpose it is not only necessary to choose the flowers and the optical picture, but also to choose an inscription of the wreath bow. It can be both sayings, which come particularly from the heart but also a sensitive last greeting. Examples are words like ‘We will never forget you! – Yours …’ or ‘In silent remembrance’.

Mourning – Ideas and Suggestions for your Speech

So that you are not alone in writing the funeral proclamation, we have put together some ideas and suggestions for your funeral speech to help you find your bearings. Every funeral oration should contain something personal, which is why we recommend supplementing our ideas and suggestions with personal anecdotes or stories.

Beginning the Eulogy

• Dear Family XY,
• Dear Mrs. XY,
• We express our deepest sympathy for the death of your husband.
• I am deeply saddened and express my sincere condolences to you and your family on the death of your dear mother…
• We have prayed, trembled and hoped with you. But now we quietly mourn with you.
• We still cannot believe that your brother has left us forever…
• It hurts me a lot to lose a good friend…
• It is so unspeakably difficult to find suitable and comforting words.
• I would like to express my sincere condolences to you for the heavy loss through the death of your wife…
• It is so painful to lose a loved one so suddenly.
• We share with you the painful loss that you have suffered through the death of …
• We are all very saddened by the tragic loss of your beloved brother. Our sincere condolences as well as much strength for the difficult hours of mourning and farewell.

The Words of Condolence

• We will keep her in best memory and continue her life’s work in her spirit…
• Deeply touched, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to you.
• All who knew her were impressed by her charisma and her helpfulness…
• May the pain of death not overwhelm you and may the memory of our time together give you enough strength for the future.
• He was my best friend, I will never forget him…
• I wish you, supported by your children and grandchildren, to find enough strength to master the further path of life.
• We loved her very much, and her cheerful nature was always an example for us…
• I wish you a lot of strength and mutual love during this time
• Many people will remember her with gratitude and love…
• I hope that your grief will soon become a loving memory.

Sadness Quotes

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

It is a distance that was, that we come from. It is a distance that will be that we go to.

The following quotation is also from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Absolutely true words, which anyone who has ever mourned can understand.

What you have deep in your heart,
one cannot lose by death.

Franz Kafka

You can see the sun slowly setting and yet get a fright when it is suddenly dark.

Ernest Hemingway

Only a few people are really alive and those who are never die. It does not count that they are no longer there. No one you really love is ever dead.

Dalai Lama

Inner happiness is not dependent on material circumstances. It is rooted in our mind

Confucius

All worldly things are only a dream in spring. Think of death as a homecoming.

Theodor Fontane

Still it will be! And as the deep peace
a quiet contraction now went through,
there it may be that isolated
the earth soul flew upwards.

Thomas Mann

The bonds of love are not cut with death.

William Shakespeare

We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep

Rejecting the inheritance – when debts are part of the estate

The inheritance can be disclaimed by any heir. This is particularly useful if debts or real estate in need of renovation are part of the estate. You can find out here which obligations must be complied with, how much it costs to disclaim an inheritance and how the liability of heirs can be limited.

The most important facts at a glance:

• The correct form is decisive in order to make the disclaimer of the inheritance legally effective.
• The content of the declaration must contain precise reasons for the renunciation of the inheritance
• Heirs are not informed of their role as heirs by the probate court unless there is an estate, or they succeed to the estate as heirs
• An over-indebted inheritance can lead to the financial ruin of the heir
• Renovable real estate can be part of the inheritance and lower the value of it
• The cost of eliminating an inheritance in the event of overindebtedness is very low
• An inheritance can only ever be accepted or disclaimed in full.
• Depending on the case, a subsequent disclaimer of the inheritance is possible
• However, the disclaimer of the inheritance can also be challenged retrospectively.

The shape – this is what you need to pay attention to

To disclaim the inheritance requires some rules. Simply notifying the family or simply having no reaction to the inheritance is not enough. The form is very crucial. The heir must make a disclaimer to the probate court either in the form of a transcript or in a publicly notarized form. However, a simple letter is not sufficient. A personal appearance before the probate court is also possible. There, the heir explains his or her request and a judicial officer records it in writing. The local court in whose district the deceased had his or her last residence is responsible.

However, not only the form is very decisive for the success of the disclaimer, but also the content and the deadline of the declaration. This must have clearly listed why the inheritance does not want to be accepted. The reasons should be clearly listed. These may include, for example, that the estate consists mainly of debts.

Inheritance: Accept or reject? – Tips from a lawyer

The six-week deadline – do not lose track of time

The declaration is subject to a so-called six-week period. If the inheritance does not wish to be accepted, the relevant declaration must be submitted to the competent probate court within six weeks, otherwise the inheritance is deemed to have been accepted.

Generally speaking, the probate court does not have a duty to bring. The heirs are only notified of the inheritance if there is a will or if they succeed to the inheritance because, for example, someone else has already disclaimed the inheritance. In all other cases, the heirs are assumed to know whether or not they inherit anything from a deceased family member.

Limit liability of heirs – protect private assets

In addition to the waiver of inheritance, it is also possible to limit the liability of heirs and thus protect private assets from being swallowed up by the debts of the estate. This can be enforced by limiting the liability of the heirs in the context of an insolvency of the estate. The heirs are then only liable for the debts of the deceased with the inherited assets. The private assets thus remain untouched if the estate is not sufficient to repay the debts.

The costs – disclaiming inheritance in the event of overindebtedness

If the inheritance is overindebted, the costs are very low. The fees for disclaiming the inheritance are a flat rate of 30 euros at the probate court. If an inheritance that is not overindebted is rejected, the costs are incurred in accordance with the Court and Notary Costs Act. The higher the value of the estate, the more expensive the proceedings will be.

An inheritance can only ever be disclaimed in full. Accepting the assets and disclaiming the debts is therefore not possible. If an inheritance is disclaimed, the compulsory portion to which each heir is normally entitled by law is no longer due to that heir. If the estate is disclaimed by all possible heirs, it becomes the property of the state. The latter uses the assets (if any) to pay off part of the debts. The creditors of the remaining debts are left empty-handed in such a case.

Contestation of the disclaimer – only possible in certain cases

If it subsequently transpires that securities or real estate belong to the estate of which you had no knowledge at the time of the disclaimer, a challenge is very much possible. The contestation must be declared in writing to the probate court within six weeks after the error has been recognised and must state the reasons for the contestation. However, if the inheritance was disclaimed due to over-indebtedness and it subsequently transpires that the estate does not contain as many debts as was assumed at the outset, the disclaimer cannot be contested.

Rejecting the inheritance after the event – contesting the acceptance of the inheritance

Once an inheritance has been accepted or the deadline has passed, there is usually no turning back. However, once again exceptions confirm the rule. In certain cases, it is possible to withdraw from the inheritance after the fact. If, for example, it comes to light after the acceptance of the inheritance that the estate contains a large loan from the deceased, of which you were unaware until then, the acceptance of the inheritance can be contested. However, as a prerequisite, you must have had full knowledge of the assets and debts of the estate. However, if the heir wants to contest the acceptances because the six-week period was not known or it was not clear when it starts, this is also possible with a good lawyer.

Read more about disclaiming an inheritance!

The most important questions about inheriting debts

Debts in the estate are often a shock and a new situation for the heirs. Many questions arise and remain unanswered. The experts at Lukinski therefore answer all questions on the subject of inheriting debts and disclaiming the inheritance so that you are accurately informed.

What happens to debts after death?

Upon the death of the testator, all property passes to the heirs. This includes assets as well as debts. The debts are therefore part of the inheritance.

Can you disclaim an inheritance if you have debts?

If debts are part of the estate, the heir must also be liable for them with his private assets. If the heir is himself indebted, he can disclaim the indebted inheritance within six weeks and thus does not have to be liable for the estate.

How long does it take to disclaim an inheritance?

The deadline for disclaiming the inheritance is six weeks after the heir has become aware of the inheritance. The processing of the disclaimer does not take long at the court.

What does it cost to disclaim an inheritance?

If an inheritance is overindebted, the inheritance disclaimer costs a flat rate of 30 euros. If the inheritance is disclaimed even though no debts are part of the inheritance, the amount varies depending on the amount of the estate.

Will I be notified when I inherit?

If no will has been drawn up and you inherit according to intestate succession, you will only be notified if you succeed to the inheritance. However, if you are the first-order heir, i.e. the child or spouse of the deceased, you will not be notified of the inheritance.

Stuttgart districts: popular and sought-after residential areas in the state capital

Stuttgart is not only a well-known production location, but also the sixth largest city in Germany. Over 600,000 people have settled here. And more and more people are drawn here. The 152 city districts are divided into 23 boroughs. Numerous parks, which form a green belt around the city centre, enhance the quality of life and living in the city. Thus, recreational and leisure opportunities are offered here. Especially inviting for day trips are the Schlossgarten, the Rosensteinpark or the Park am Killesberg. As already mentioned, the city is a strong business location with branches of world-famous brands such as Daimler and Porsche.

Stuttgart inspires with its high quality of life and living

Here is the largest and the most populous district:

• Stuttgart-Vaihingen is the largest urban district in terms of area.
• Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt is the city district with the highest population

Stuttgart: Map and location

The capital of Baden-Württemberg is located in the southern west between the cities of Ludwigsburg and Tübingen. Stuttgart is not only attractive because of its infrastructure, booming economy and the diversity of the capital. Its location also makes it a popular place to live, as neighbouring Switzerland and Austria are within easy reach by car.

Popular districts of Stuttgart: Birkach, Nord, Degerloch & Co.

Here you will find an overview of the most popular and sought-after districts in Düsseldorf. These include Birkach and Stuttgart-Nord, among others. In addition to a brief summary of the respective property market, you will also find the area, population and population density of the district.

Here are the most popular places to live in the state capital:

• Birkach
• Stuttgart-North
• Degerloch
• Stuttgart-Mitte

Birkach: Rural idyll in the big city

The district of Birkach is one of the smallest districts in Stuttgart and is particularly popular with families and people looking for recreation due to its rural idyll.

• Area: 300 ha
• Population: 7,149
• Population density: 2,383 inhabitants per km²
• Read more here: Selling real estate in Birkach

Stuttgart-North: Attractive area close to the city centre

The demand for living space in the Stuttgart-Nord district is high, the district is still in the inner circle of the city, the centre is therefore quickly accessible.

• Area: 681.5 ha
• Population: 27,629
• Population density: 4,054 inhabitants per km²
• Read more here: Selling real estate in Stuttgart-Nord

Degerloch: Villas and vineyards

The district of Degerloch is located south of the city centre and is home to numerous villas between vineyards. The most expensive adresses in Stuttgart are located here.

• Area: 802 ha
• Population: 16,686
• Population density: 2,081 inhabitants per km²
• Read more here: Selling real estate in Degerloch

Stuttgart-Mitte: Good infrastructure on Königsstraße

The Stuttgart-Mitte district is located in the heart of Stuttgart. Numerous shops have set up shop on Königsstraße.

• Area: 380.6 ha
• Population: 23,956
• Population density: 6,294 inhabitants per km²
• Read more here: Selling real estate in Stuttgart-Mitte

Selling real estate in Stuttgart: Hiring an estate agent or selling privately?

If you want to sell your property independently and without professional help in Stuttgart, you take high risks, because the sale of a property should be well considered. Most property sales take place due to a change of job, the desired increase or also because of a move to a desired area. So why is it worth hiring a real estate agent?

Private sale: The biggest challenges

Whether it’s a maisonette, a detached house or a semi-detached house – selling a property is a complex process that only a few private individuals see through. Many sellers of a property completely misjudge the effort alone and are then quickly overwhelmed or do not find buyers. In the worst case they even let themselves be “ripped off”. Without a professional brokerage firm, the sale of one’s own property can then become a real test of endurance, which is to be avoided.

Here is a summary of some of the disadvantages:

• Lack of expertise
• Poor organization
• Too little time
• Lack of negotiating skills / sales talent

Tasks of a real estate agent: exposé, purchase negotiation & Co.

A good real estate agent can provide you with the missing expertise you need to sell a house or condo, and take the time out of the entire selling process that you surely lack, because selling a property takes time. So don’t take any chances and avoid ending up with a sale price that is too low or suffering personally from the stress.

Benefits: Expertise, negotiation skills & a stress-free sale.

Here is an overview of all the tasks of the real estate agent:

• Valuation
• Real estate marketing
• Preparation of an exposé
• Carrying out and planning the viewing appointments
• Purchase negotiations
• Processing and drawing up of the purchase contract
• Handover of keys

Advantages of a real estate agent: Expertise & experience

Especially the development of the price with future perspective and possible fluctuations can often only know a professional. A good real estate agent team have many reports, current data, years of experience as well as special additional information that allow us to sell your property professionally.

Benefits: Expertise, experience, negotiation skills & a stress-free sale.

You want to buy a property and are therefore in a hurry to sell your current property? Or you want to buy an apartment building as quickly as possible in order to rent it out lucratively? The right real estate agent at your side gives you enough time and freedom to focus on your future planning.

Property valuation: Important criteria & tips

In addition to the know-how and the necessary time, a competent real estate agent also brings everything necessary to first determine the value of your property, which is the first and most important step. Because before you place ads or contact potential buyers, you first need to know how much your property is worth.

Valuing real estate: These factors influence the purchase price

An advertisement is not simply placed, but prospective buyers must also be attracted. In addition, you do not want to sell your property below value. Therefore, it is indispensable to have a good plan before it “really starts”. Above all, this plan should be in place before the ad is published. This plan should contain certain preparations that will steer a sale on the right track from the very beginning.

So an estate sale needs one thing above all else:

Planning, planning, planning!

And this already starts with the property valuation. The following factors determine the amount of the purchase price:

• Location
• Infrastructure
• Connection to schools & hospitals
• Year of manufacture
• Building fabric
• Equipment

Valuation: Avoid mistakes!

The valuation always forms the beginning of the sales process of a property and should therefore also be carried out with the necessary care. However, it is precisely this determination of value that is extremely complicated and can quickly present the uninformed with a major challenge. If mistakes are made in the valuation, the whole process usually suffers and you do not receive what you had in mind for your property.

Reading tip: Valuing real estate

Determining the purchase price with the support of a real estate agent

Especially people from outside the industry often find it very difficult to estimate the selling price and then make mistakes, which you can quickly avoid with the help of an expert. Do not underestimate the importance of the valuation and trust an experienced professional. Also, please do not confuse the value to be assessed, which you may still be able to approximate, with the complex background that the real estate market has to offer today.

Our advice: Be sure to have a professional assist you with the valuation.

Procedure of the sale: documents, exposé & inspection

Likewise, marketing involves a great risk of mistakes and disadvantages for the seller. In addition to the communication with potential buyers and the presentation of the property, it also requires good negotiating skills and the preparation of the necessary documents.

Important documents: floor plan, site plan & Co.

The preparations that a real estate agent can help you with relate, for example, to obtaining all the necessary documents such as floor plans, the extract from the land register or a site plan. These will be needed later not only for the exposé, but also for the settlement.

Here is an overview of the most important documents:

• Energy certificate
• Floor plan
• Land register excerpt
• Site plan
• Invoices from renovations & maintenance

Exposé: energy consumption, photos and important key data

Birkach, Mitte, Nord or Degerloch – The exposé should never be created and presented lightly, but must contain all important information and facts such as energy consumption. In addition to the important documents, expressive photos are of course also important to convince the prospective buyer.

Viewing of the property: support and answering of important questions

Also, please do not underestimate the amount of time that is required when the first interested parties then come to view the property. These visitors must also be looked after and possible questions should be answered correctly immediately. If private persons offer such viewings, it happens quickly that potential buyers do not feel well informed or become suspicious due to errors in the documents or an overstrained seller and want to buy somewhere else.

Reading Tip: 11 Tips: Here’s what you should keep in mind when visiting

Conclusion: Selling real estate in Stuttgart

The real estate market in Stuttgart is currently very lively and prices are continually rising. The sale of a property is a complex process in which an inexperienced person can quickly lose the overview. Let an expert assist you with the sale of your property, you will save a lot of stress and effort and avoid financial losses due to ignorance.