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

Der Beitrag Expressing Condolences: Empathically and Compassionately Expressing Mourning + Quotes erschien zuerst auf ℄ Real Estates.

Intestate succession

In principle, the topic of “inheritance and estate” is always in good hands with a (specialist) lawyer. The construction of pre- and post-heirs is complicated. Nevertheless, there are a few easy-to-understand principles that every property owner should know and can also easily implement themselves. Here are some questions that come up again and again and which we will answer in the following.

• Pre-heir and post-heir – what is it all about?
• My mother is the previous heir. Is she allowed to sell her part of the house so easily?
• Is the owner (previous heir) entitled to sell the house without the consent of the subsequent heir or does the latter have to agree to the sale?
• I’m heir apparent, now what?
• House sale despite succession?

Pre-heir – post-heir: what does it mean?

Anyone who wants to bequeath something is free to determine the heirs and can therefore also transfer his or her inheritance to several persons in a staggered manner. The subsequent heir is then the person who receives the inheritance only after another person – the so-called previous heir – has previously inherited. The testator can, for example, choose an occasion or a point in time for the succession to occur, such as coming of age or passing the master’s examination.

The previous and subsequent heirs are both legal successors of the testator. However, they do not form a community of heirs in which they would inherit at the same time, but inherit one after the other due to the instigation of the testator.

Pre- and post-heirs for married couples – safeguarding assets in the family

The inheritance regulation by means of a pre- and post-heir is often used by married couples. In this way, they can ensure that all their joint assets remain in their own family. For this purpose, the spouses each name the other as a pre-heir and the joint children as a post-heir. Even in the event of remarriage after the death of one spouse, the assets cannot be inherited by the new spouse.

Pre-heirs – tasks, duties and rights

Pre-heirs are also referred to as ‘temporary heirs’. This is because they only have limited power of disposal over the estate. Particularly in the case of inherited real estate, this situation has consequences for both sides – i.e. the previous and subsequent heirs. First of all there is the inheritance tax. This is always payable initially by the previous heir.

• The previous heir must pay the inheritance tax from the funds of the previous inheritance.
• The previous heir is only the heir until the next of kin occurs.
• If a property is inherited and occupied by the previous and subsequent heirs themselves, no inheritance tax is payable
• The property must be owner-occupied for at least ten years after acceptance of the inheritance
• The owner-occupied living space must not exceed 200 sqm.
• Only then no inheritance tax is due

Statistics – Heritage in Germany

Read more facts and figures here: Real Estate Statistics. We also have other interesting studies, surveys and statistics on the topic: Inheritance in Germany.

Restriction of disposition – exceptions and rights of the previous heirs in real estate transactions

The previous heir cannot dispose freely of the estate. Inheritance law imposes certain restrictions on the disposal of the estate by the previous heir, because in the event of a subsequent inheritance, the assets should accrue to the subsequent heir undiminished. For example, the previous heir may not sell or give away any property from the estate without the consent of the subsequent heir. The previous heir may use other inheritance items for himself, but he is obliged to compensate the successor for the value of the item after the succession has occurred.

However, the testator may exempt the predecessor from many of these restrictions. This is then referred to as an exempt preheir. The “exempt estate” – which may then also include real estate – may be sold by the exempt previous heir alone, without having to obtain the consent of the subsequent heir.

Pre-inheritance & post-inheritance – advice from a lawyer

Broker tip: Watch out when buying inherited real estate

If a property from an estate is to be sold, there are many details to consider – for the seller and also for the buyer. At the latest here – after a lawyer has also been consulted for advice – the broker should come into play. The experts at Lukinski – Lukinski – have the necessary expertise to help with these complex issues.

Especially important: the real estate agent has the necessary distance to accurately determine the value of an inherited property. With inherited houses, money is often given away unnecessarily because the heir wants to get rid of his inherited property quickly. The opposite is also possible: so many memories and emotions are attached to the inherited house that the value is set too high. The property is then difficult to sell.

Find a broker as a pre-heir

Finding a broker as a pre-heir means paying attention to very special services. This is because the broker must be very familiar with the legal intricacies of succession and the connections between the pre- and post-heir.

Lukinski will perform for you as a pre-heir:

• The neutral valuation of your inherited property
• The professional sifting and arrangement of all documents from the inheritance necessary for the sale
• The professional and sales-promoting staging of your object (photos/videos)
• Your emotional state is given special consideration
• The proper creation of an appealing sales exposé
• The discreet placement of your property in all relevant media
• The analysis of our extensive customer file for suitable buyers
• The discreet organisation and execution of viewing appointments
• The discreet conduct of negotiations with prospective buyers (if desired, without your presence)
• Finalization of the purchase contract in cooperation with notaries

When will the broker be paid?

A reputable agent and real estate salesperson will only be paid upon a successful closing and will discuss their fee rate right at the beginning of the sales process. Openness and transparency are therefore fundamental criteria by which the house seller recognizes the good broker.

How much is inherited in Germany?

Here you can see inheritances and gifts in Germany. The survey ranges from 2008 to 2018 and shows that over 110,000 inheritances are distributed each year. Great potential for dispute if the community of heirs does not agree. Here you can find more interesting studies, surveys and statistics on the topic: Inheritance in Germany.

You can find more statistics at Statista

How much money is inherited?

Since 2014, Hamburg in particular has been at the top in Germany. Hamburg is currently at the top with 167.80 euros. In no other city is so much inherited. With a population share 2.19% of total Germany (1.82 million out of 82.79 million), a total volume of 305,731,600 euros is inherited annually.

• Population share Hamburg 2.19%
• Inheritance in Germany (comparison year) 109,635; statistically 2,401 inheritances in Hamburg
• Total inheritance (Hamburg / year) 305.731.600 Euro

You can find more statistics at Statista

Der Beitrag Pre-heir and post-heir: definition and tips erschien zuerst auf ℄ Real Estates.

The allowances of inheritance – what is taxed and what is not?

In order to protect the heirs from a large financial burden, different tax rates and allowances apply depending on the degree of relationship. These allowances include various things that do not have to be taxed, so that the heirs do not have to pay the most as taxes, especially in the case of a large estate. You can now find out what the tax-free amounts are and how high they are for the respective family members.

• Life estate: bequeathing correctly
• Learn more about: Inherit properly

Pension allowances – precisely regulated for children and spouses

Pension allowances are payable if the partner or children were dependent on the financial support of the deceased. For spouses, the pension allowance is €256,000 provided that the surviving spouse does not have a widow’s pension or occupational pension for which no inheritance tax is payable. If such a pension exists, the value of the pension is determined on the basis of the expected duration of the benefits and the pension allowance is reduced by this value.

Children are entitled to pension allowances that are graduated according to the age of the child at the time of death. Infants up to the age of 5 are entitled to a pension allowance of 52,000 euros. Starting from this point, the pension allowance decreases by approximately 10,000 euros every five years. Children aged 20 to 27 can therefore claim a pension allowance of 10,300 euros, but these allowances are only relevant if the children do not have their own pension payments, such as an orphan’s pension.

• Pension allowances apply if the partner or children were dependent on the deceased’s financial support
• Spouses and registered partners receive 256,000 euros
• Children receive 52,000 euros, but the amount is reduced under certain conditions

Inheritance tax: clever use of allowances – tips from a specialist lawyer

Further allowances – different according to degree of relationship

The other allowances, in addition to the pension allowances, are regulated according to the degree of relationship and are independent of existing survivors’ pensions or own assets. Accordingly, spouses and registered partners inherit an allowance of 500,000 euros. Children of the deceased or grandchildren of the deceased, if their parents die before the inheritance, can claim an allowance of 400,000 euros. Grandchildren whose parents are still alive can claim an allowance of 200,000 euros. Great-grandchildren or the deceased’s own parents are entitled to an allowance of 100,000 euros. All other heirs can claim tax allowances of 20,000 euros. To ensure that as little tax as possible has to be paid on inheritance, the testator can make important decisions long before death and specify them in the will.

Only what remains of the estate after deducting the allowances is taxable. Each taxable acquisition is rounded down to a full €100. The individual tax rates of inheritance tax depend on the different tax classes of the heirs and are also progressively graduated.

• There are other allowances that apply to both inheritance and gifting
• The free allowances are based on the degree of relationship

Gifts – allowances and gift tax

Inheritance tax and gift tax are closely linked. Almost the same allowances apply as in the case of inheritance, however, the gift allowances may only be left tax-free once in ten years. Testators who wish to reduce the inheritance tax for their heirs must therefore start gifting their assets ten years before their death. In the case of patchwork families, this rule means that it can make sense to adopt the spouse’s children in order to bring the tax-free amounts into line with those of the biological children. The adoption does not affect the succession to the other biological parent.

A gift thus actually allows for savings opportunities in inheritance tax. The testators must be aware of these possibilities and use them in a targeted manner in order to have to hand over less of an estate in taxes. Non-marital partners must note that even long-term civil partnerships only allow the given tax allowances if they are officially recognised, either through marriage or through registration of the partnership.

• The same allowances apply to gift tax as to inheritance tax.
• The two are closely linked and follow the same premises

Tax-exempt goods – works of art, libraries or household effects

In addition to tax-free allowances, there are also goods that are tax-free. For close relatives in tax class I, movable assets such as household effects or similar objects of daily use are tax-exempt if they do not exceed a value of 42,000 euros. For all other heirs, a value of 12,000 euros applies here. If works of art, archives or libraries are part of the estate, they are generally exempt from tax at a rate of 60 percent. If the estate includes a building in which one of the heirs lives, this can also be exempt from tax.

• Some goods are tax free or tax exempt up to a certain amount
• Archives, works of art and libraries are 60 percent tax-exempt

You can also find out more about the topic: Bequeathing correctly during your lifetime!

The most important questions on the subject of tax allowances and inheritance tax

Since the allowances vary depending on the degree of relationship and also depend on the succession, questions often arise on this topic. So that you know which allowance you are entitled to and how much inheritance tax is due, the experts at Lukinski answer all the important questions on the subject of allowances and inheritance tax.

What is the allowance for inheritance tax?

The tax-free amounts vary depending on the degree of relationship. For spouses and civil partners, an amount of 500,000 euros applies, for children and grandchildren, if their parents are already deceased, an amount of 400,000 euros applies. For grandchildren whose parents are still alive, an amount of 200,000 euros applies and for parents and grandparents an amount of 100,000 euros applies.

What is the allowance for inheritance between siblings?

In the case of inheritance among siblings, an allowance of 20,000 euros applies. The heirs are subject to tax class 2.

How can I avoid the inheritance tax?

The inheritance tax can be reduced by the testator already starting to give away his inheritance during his lifetime. Here, some guidelines must be followed so that no gift tax is incurred. If everything is observed, the inheritance tax can be reduced by the gift and, depending on the case, can even be completely omitted.

When do I pay inheritance tax?

Inheritance tax is paid by every heir. However, tax is only levied on the amount that exceeds the exempt amount. The possible tax-free amount varies depending on the degree of relationship.

Is a gift taxable?

Gift tax is very close to inheritance tax. In general, a gift must be taxed in the same way as an inheritance, but the same allowances apply here. Testators can therefore minimise inheritance tax by making a gift during their lifetime.

Until when is an inheritance tax-free?

This depends on the degree of kinship. Close relatives such as spouses and children have a higher allowance than grandchildren, parents or grandparents of the deceased.

How much is the inheritance tax?

The amount of inheritance tax depends on the degree of relationship, the amount of the estate but also on the respective allowances. How high the inheritance tax is in each individual case must be calculated individually.

Der Beitrag Allowances and inheritance tax: facts and tips erschien zuerst auf ℄ Real Estates.

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.

Der Beitrag Inherit debts / inherit without knowledge: Who pays debts in the event of death? erschien zuerst auf ℄ Real Estates.