Articles from Dr. Stefan Seyfarth

Can a doctor be validly bequeathed a legacy in a patient’s will? The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) recently addressed this question. In a ruling dated July 2, 2025 (Case No. IV ZR 93/24), the court clarified: Even though medical professional codes generally prohibit gifts from patients to their doctors, this does not automatically render such a gift invalid when made in the form of a bequest. Rather, the decisive factor is the fundamental freedom of every patient to determine the disposition of their estate after death.

In a ruling dated July 23, 2025, the Federal Court of Justice clarified that renouncing an inheritance does not invalidate the right to receive benefits under an accident insurance policy. This ruling is of considerable importance for anyone who renounces an inheritance for specific reasons (e.g., excessive debt in the estate) but still wishes to assert claims under life or accident insurance policies.