Thuringia will inherit over 4 million euros from people without relatives in 2023

In ten cases last year, the state had to pay out a total of around 77,800 euros to heirs who only became aware of them after the fact. "If a legal or testamentary heir turns up who was not previously taken into account because they were not known, then they have a claim to the surrender of the estate," explained Finance Minister Heike Taubert (SPD). The true heir's claim for restitution only expires after 30 years.

High personnel and cost expenditure

However, the state not only inherited more last year - the costs for administration and liquidation also increased. Added to this are the costs for personnel and administrative expenses. "This is why it is not worthwhile for the Free State to be declared an heir in the vast majority of cases," says Taubert. The state predominantly inherits over-indebted estates, which have to be processed with high personnel and cost expenditure. Especially where structurally desolate buildings had to be secured because no buyer could be found for years.

In 2023, the Free State inherited 577 parcels of land or shares in such parcels. This is significantly more than in 2022 (337). According to the ministry, there were also 286 parcels of land from inheritances in previous years that the state only learned about in 2023. This means that Thuringia currently still has almost 4,900 inherited parcels of land that need to be managed and sold. However, many are difficult to sell. Last year, the Free State was able to sell 380 parcels of land or shares in them or they were foreclosed.