Das holographische Testament

Drawing up one's handwritten will often leads to mistakes and therefore requires legal advice. The contributions to the symposium held by the Rheinisches Institut für Notarrecht [Rhenish Institute for Notarial Law] give views from different perspectives on this topic.

From a philosophic perspective the question was asked whether the holographic will brings the freedom of the testator to make a will up to date or, on the contrary, overcharges the non-professional.
The second contribution shows the legal structure of the holographic will both in Europe and Latin America in a broad study.

Another contribution presents an evaluation of jurisdiction concerning the holographic will in Germany. In conclusion, the Testamentum parentum inter liberos is highlighted as an historic alternative from the Jus commune.

Altogether the symposium has shown that, in spite of its inadequacies, the holographic will is an essential instrument of the inheritance law.

With contributions by:
Prof. Dr. Mathias Schmoeckel (Bonn), Prof. Dr. Rainer Zaczyk (Bonn), Prof. Dr. Anne Röthel (Hamburg), Prof. Dr. Karl August Prinz von Sachsen Gessaphe (Hagen) and Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Hermann (München)