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Insurance for executors and estate administrators in Germany

Anyone who manages an estate holds other people's money: accounts, securities, property, sometimes for years. In Germany, an executor (Testamentsvollstrecker) is personally liable to heirs and legatees for culpable breaches of duty. Estate curators (Nachlasspfleger) appointed by the probate court are subject to the rules for legal guardians. This page explains the liability, the cover that matters for executors and estate administrators and what it costs.

Insurance for executors and estate administrators in Germany

The question almost everyone asks first

I am a lawyer or tax adviser. Does my professional indemnity cover executorships?

Not automatically. Some policies include executorships, others limit them or charge extra. Have the role confirmed in writing and check whether the limit is enough for large estates. Extra cover for a single estate is available.

What goes wrong in this trade

  1. 01

    Securities sold too late

    A portfolio is not sold as the will directs. Prices fall and the heirs claim the difference.

  2. 02

    Empty house uninsured

    The deceased's buildings insurance lapses. A burst pipe causes major damage.

  3. 03

    Tax deadline missed

    A deadline with the tax office passes; surcharges and interest reduce the estate.

  4. 04

    Wrong distribution

    A legacy is paid too early or to the wrong person. Getting it back is hard.

  5. 05

    Payment fraud

    A fake email from an alleged co-heir changes bank details. The payout goes to fraudsters.

  6. 06

    Valuables missing

    When the flat is cleared, jewellery and cash are gone. The heirs say you failed to secure them.

Risk radar
Liability 5Fire and water 2Theft 3Cyber 4Downtime 3Health 2

Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.

The insurance you need

Essential

Professional indemnity

Financial loss liability pays justified claims of heirs and legatees under section 2219 BGB and defends unjustified ones.

Strongly advised

Cyber insurance

For data breaches, ransomware and, depending on the policy, payment fraud on estate accounts.

Business contents

Protects furniture, equipment and files in your office against fire, water, burglary and storm.

Business legal expenses

For your own disputes with landlords, staff or suppliers. Disputes with heirs about your conduct are handled by the liability cover.

Depends on the business

Business liability

For injury and property damage, for example someone falling while viewing an estate property.

What it costs: example prices

Premiums depend on the limit, the number and value of estates, the type of administration and claims history. Long term administration with businesses or property is rated higher than a simple winding up.

InsuranceExampleTypical range
Professional indemnityIndividual executor, a few estates, 500,000 eurosabout 400 to 1,000 euros a year
Professional indemnityProfessional executor, 2 million eurosabout 1,500 to 4,000 euros a year
Professional indemnityExtra cover for one large estateabout 500 to 3,000 euros per estate
Cyber insuranceOffice with three workstations, 250,000 euros limitabout 400 to 1,100 euros a year
Business contentsFurniture and equipment worth 25,000 eurosabout 100 to 250 euros a year

For comparison: Basic cover usually costs a year less than a small share of the fee for one medium sized estate.

All prices are guide figures from our own quoting work in 2026,

excluding German insurance premium tax.

There are hardly any published tariffs for executors.

Sources of the price examples

Our suggestions: three packages

01

Occasional executor

For: Executors with individual estates alongside their main job

  • Professional indemnity
  • Cyber insurance

Together about 800 to 2,100 euros a year

Request this package

02

Professional administration

For: Executors and estate curators with their own office

  • Professional indemnity
  • Cyber insurance
  • Business contents
  • Business legal expenses
  • Business liability

Together about 2,500 to 6,500 euros a year

Request this package

03

Large estate

For: Single estates with businesses or many properties

  • Professional indemnity

Together priced per estate, usually from about 500 euros

Request this package

The worst day in estate administration

Six things executors really go through, all on one Wednesday. Click through and see who pays.

Damage so far€135,500
  1. Two heirs say you sold the portfolio too late and claim the loss in value.

    €64,000 · Paid by: Professional indemnity

  2. A legacy was paid before the estate debts were settled. Money for the tax bill is missing.

    €22,000 · Paid by: Professional indemnity

  3. A fake email changes a co-heir's bank details and the payout goes to fraudsters.

    €30,000 · Paid by: Cyber insurance

  4. A prospective buyer falls on the cellar stairs while viewing the estate house.

    €8,000 · Paid by: Business liability

  5. A power strip catches fire in the office; files and scanner are covered in soot.

    €9,000 · Paid by: Business contents

  6. A clearance firm charges far more than agreed and you dispute it.

    €2,500 · Paid by: Business legal expenses

Which package would you have had?

Paid by insurance: €0
Out of your own pocket: €135,500

Illustrative amounts before any excess.

What is paid depends on the policy terms.

Practical tips from your broker

  1. Have executorships and estate curatorships confirmed as insured activities.
  2. At the start of each large estate, check whether your limit is enough and buy extra cover for that estate if needed.
  3. In the first days, find out which of the deceased's policies are running, especially buildings and contents, and keep paying them.
  4. Call back to verify any changed bank details before paying heirs.
  5. Render accounts every year, even if nobody asks; it protects you in a dispute.
  6. Look at run off cover, because claims can come years after the estate is closed.

Why NAMMERT for your business

We read the terms

As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert compares several insurers and shows how executorships, estate curatorships and extra cover are treated.

Role and office together

Liability, cyber and office cover are kept in one file, so nothing is insured twice or not at all.

Brokering since 1989

Our work is free for you; the insurer pays our commission. You speak to people who know your work, in English or German.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

What is an executor liable for in Germany?

Under section 2219 BGB, for losses caused to heirs or legatees by a culpable breach of duty.

Several executors are jointly liable.

How is an estate curator liable?

The estate curator is appointed by the probate court under section 1960 BGB.

Under section 1888 BGB the rules on legal guardianship apply,

including liability for breaches of duty under section 1826 BGB.

Is an executor paid?

Yes.

Under section 2221 BGB the executor may claim reasonable remuneration unless the testator provided

otherwise.

How much does financial loss liability cost?

As a guide figure from our quoting work,

about 400 to 1,000 euros a year for a few estates with 500,000 euros,

more for professional administration with higher limits.

Do I have to render accounts every year?

Where administration lasts longer, the heir may demand annual accounts under section 2218 BGB.

Does cyber insurance help with payment fraud?

Many policies offer a module for this with its own limit,

often only if approval rules were followed.

We compare this for you.

NAMMERT insurance broker

Request quotes for Executor

The recommended covers are ticked.

Change what does not fit; we compare quotes, in English.

1Who is it for?
2Which insurance?

Choose as many as you like. For each one, the details an insurer needs for a quote appear below.

Personal

Business

3Details

Professional indemnity insurance in Germany (Berufshaftpflicht)

For example tax adviser with payroll, freelance software developer,

architect for residential buildings

For example current policy abroad, clients in the US, side activities,

expiry date of existing cover

Business legal expenses insurance in Germany (Firmenrechtsschutz)

For example plumbing business, tax practice, online shop for electronics

Existing disputes cannot be insured, but knowing about them helps us advise you

Business contents insurance in Germany (Inhaltsversicherung)

For example café with bakery, accounting firm, car repair shop

At purchase price, 0 if no stock

For example flood cover, customer property, tools in vehicles, loss of income

Cyber insurance for businesses in Germany

Rule of thumb: cost of three to four weeks of downtime plus recovery

4Your current policy
5How can we reach you?

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Your broker: Norman Nammert, trading as NAMMERT.

Insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act.

Broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH is a separate company.

It does not arrange your contract.

Statutory disclosure (German) · Updated