# 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.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-executor-and-estate-administrator.php  
Updated: 2026-10-15

## 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.

## At a glance

- **Liability:** The executor is liable to heirs and legatees for culpable breaches of duty; several executors are jointly liable (section 2219 BGB)
- **Accounts:** Where administration lasts longer, the heir may demand annual accounts (section 2218 BGB)
- **Estate curator:** Appointed by the probate court (section 1960 BGB); the rules on legal guardianship apply, including liability under section 1826 BGB
- **Basic cover from:** about 400 euros a year for financial loss liability of 500,000 euros, a guide figure from our quoting work
- **Often forgotten:** One large estate can exceed the annual limit of a law or tax firm's own policy

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Securities sold too late:** A portfolio is not sold as the will directs. Prices fall and the heirs claim the difference.
- **Empty house uninsured:** The deceased's buildings insurance lapses. A burst pipe causes major damage.
- **Tax deadline missed:** A deadline with the tax office passes; surcharges and interest reduce the estate.
- **Wrong distribution:** A legacy is paid too early or to the wrong person. Getting it back is hard.
- **Payment fraud:** A fake email from an alleged co-heir changes bank details. The payout goes to fraudsters.
- **Valuables missing:** When the flat is cleared, jewellery and cash are gone. The heirs say you failed to secure them.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 5, Fire and water 2, Theft 3, Cyber 4, Downtime 3, Health 2

## The insurance you need

- **Professional indemnity** (Essential): Financial loss liability pays justified claims of heirs and legatees under section 2219 BGB and defends unjustified ones. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-professional-indemnity.php
- **Cyber insurance** (Strongly advised): For data breaches, ransomware and, depending on the policy, payment fraud on estate accounts. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cyber-insurance.php
- **Business contents** (Strongly advised): Protects furniture, equipment and files in your office against fire, water, burglary and storm. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Strongly advised): For your own disputes with landlords, staff or suppliers. Disputes with heirs about your conduct are handled by the liability cover. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php
- **Business liability** (Depends on the business): For injury and property damage, for example someone falling while viewing an estate property. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Occupational disability** (Depends on the business): The role is tied to you personally. A long absence means no fees. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-occupational-disability.php

## 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.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Professional indemnity | Individual executor, a few estates, 500,000 euros | about 400 to 1,000 euros a year |
| Professional indemnity | Professional executor, 2 million euros | about 1,500 to 4,000 euros a year |
| Professional indemnity | Extra cover for one large estate | about 500 to 3,000 euros per estate |
| Cyber insurance | Office with three workstations, 250,000 euros limit | about 400 to 1,100 euros a year |
| Business contents | Furniture and equipment worth 25,000 euros | about 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._

- [Civil Code (BGB), section 2219: liability of the executor](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__2219.html)
- [Civil Code (BGB), section 2218: accounts to the heir](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__2218.html)
- [Civil Code (BGB), section 2221: executor's remuneration](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__2221.html)
- [Civil Code (BGB), section 1960: estate curator](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__1960.html)
- [Civil Code (BGB), section 1888: guardianship rules for curators](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__1888.html)
- [Civil Code (BGB), section 1826: liability of the legal guardian](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__1826.html)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Occasional executor** (Executors with individual estates alongside their main job): Professional indemnity, Cyber insurance. Together: about 800 to 2,100 euros a year
- **Professional administration** (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
- **Large estate** (Single estates with businesses or many properties): Professional indemnity. Together: priced per estate, usually from about 500 euros

## The worst day in estate administration

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

- 08:45: Two heirs say you sold the portfolio too late and claim the loss in value. (€64,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 10:30: A legacy was paid before the estate debts were settled. Money for the tax bill is missing. (€22,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 12:10: A fake email changes a co-heir's bank details and the payout goes to fraudsters. (€30,000, Paid by: Cyber insurance)
- 14:30: A prospective buyer falls on the cellar stairs while viewing the estate house. (€8,000, Paid by: Business liability)
- 17:00: A power strip catches fire in the office; files and scanner are covered in soot. (€9,000, Paid by: Business contents)
- 19:40: A clearance firm charges far more than agreed and you dispute it. (€2,500, Paid by: Business legal expenses)

**Damage so far:** €135,500

## Practical tips from your broker

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

## FAQ

### 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.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison, free of charge. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-executor-and-estate-administrator.php#anfrage

---

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.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.