Germany forces elderly and disabled to pay debt of deceased relative in

[jojajn]

I know of an elderly gentleman (78) who can hardly walk. Recently, he received a letter from Germany stating that he inherited debt from a relative who died in Germany and had been a citizen of Germany. This elderly gentleman has been an American citizen for 55 years and hadn't seen this German relative for many years. The letter stated that this debt could be disavowed if he goes to the German Consulate in Chicago and signs the form in the presence of a German notary. The problem is that this elderly man is not well enough to make a trip to Chicago which is over 300 miles. He called the consulate there but they offered no other options for him. Can a foreign country make an elderly, disabled person accountable for debt only because he is not well enough to travel to sign these forms? What can he do about this? He is very upset by this. He lives in Minnesota.

 

[I'mTheFather]

Depending on where the gentleman lives, one of the honorary consuls at this link may be able to help:

http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/03__Consulates/Chicago/03/Honorary__Consuls.html

It's certainly worth a call. Does your friend have children? If so, they may also have to reject the inheritance.

 

[jojajn]

Depending on where the gentleman lives, one of the honorary consuls at this link may be able to help:

http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/03__Consulates/Chicago/03/Honorary__Consuls.html

It's certainly worth a call. Does your friend have children? If so, they may also have to reject the inheritance.

Wouldn't travel still be required to reach the honorary consultant? Thanks for the info regardless.

 

[drruthless]

I know of an elderly gentleman (78) who can hardly walk. Recently, he received a letter from Germany stating that he inherited debt from a relative who died in Germany and had been a citizen of Germany. This elderly gentleman has been an American citizen for 55 years and hadn't seen this German relative for many years. The letter stated that this debt could be disavowed if he goes to the German Consulate in Chicago and signs the form in the presence of a German notary. The problem is that this elderly man is not well enough to make a trip to Chicago which is over 300 miles. He called the consulate there but they offered no other options for him. Can a foreign country make an elderly, disabled person accountable for debt only because he is not well enough to travel to sign these forms? What can he do about this? He is very upset by this. He lives in Minnesota.

Have you considered this might be a scam?

 

[LdiJ]

I know of an elderly gentleman (78) who can hardly walk. Recently, he received a letter from Germany stating that he inherited debt from a relative who died in Germany and had been a citizen of Germany. This elderly gentleman has been an American citizen for 55 years and hadn't seen this German relative for many years. The letter stated that this debt could be disavowed if he goes to the German Consulate in Chicago and signs the form in the presence of a German notary. The problem is that this elderly man is not well enough to make a trip to Chicago which is over 300 miles. He called the consulate there but they offered no other options for him. Can a foreign country make an elderly, disabled person accountable for debt only because he is not well enough to travel to sign these forms? What can he do about this? He is very upset by this. He lives in Minnesota.

Considering the fact that Germany has zero jurisdiction over an American citizen living in the US, I believe that your friend could safely ignore the entire matter.

 

[CdwJava]

Probably NOT a scam:

https://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=21481

 

[LdiJ]

Probably NOT a scam:

https://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=21481

After reading that I suggest that the elderly person consult an attorney on both his behalf and on the behalf of any children or grandchildren he might have. However, I still believe that Germany would not have jurisdiction over a US citizen residing in the US.

 

[STEPHAN]

I have been in a very similar situation. He needs to write a normal letter to the court, this will extent the timeframe.

He can use any local notary, but he needs to get the notarization apostilled for the use in Germany. This is usually done by the Department of State. It will take 2 weeks max.

Then send this to the german court.

 

[jojajn]

I have been in a very similar situation. He needs to write a normal letter to the court, this will extent the timeframe.

He can use any local notary, but he needs to get the notarization apostilled for the use in Germany. This is usually done by the Department of State. It will take 2 weeks max.

Then send this to the german court.

What court does he need to write a letter to? Also, can the notarization be apostilled via mail? Thanks for your insightful advice.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Even if he ignores it all in the future, face it, he is 78. He is no longer a German citizen subject to their laws. By the time they could get everything in place to try an collect in the US, he will likely have passed.