"Had you been acquainted with my mom"
Brewing Drama: Veltins Heir's Bitter Fight for Inheritance
Carl Clemens Veltins, son of a German brewing dynasty, is embroiled in a bitter legal battle over his inheritance. Despite being disinherited by his mother in her will, he's been tirelessly challenging this decision for years—a battle that has brought him no closer to his desired fortune.
Last week, the regional court finalized the saga, upholding the disinheritance. "The disinheritance of a child must be respected," the judge clarified in their ruling. Claims for inheritance, expiring more than three decades since his mother's demise, were no longer valid, they added.
Golden Handcuffs: High Court Costs Deposit
Undeterred by the impending defeat, Veltins appeared composed before the trial. At stake was a potential 30 million euros dispute—a hefty price even before the trial commenced. Veltins revealed that he initially hesitated to file a lawsuit for this very reason, only affording it after receiving significant financial backing.
The Questionable Testament: A Matter of Sound Mind?
Veltins contested his mother's testament, asserting she wasn't of sound mind when she drafted it. The sisters deny this claim, citing their mother's business acumen—she managed the brewery just before her passing, their lawyers argued. The court sided with the sisters, finding no evidence of mental incapacity.
The Absent Sibling: Sparks Between the Veltins Sisters
Interestingly, the disputing sisters did not attend the trial. One, Susanne Veltins, actively contributes to the brewery, positioning it as one of Germany's most popular beer brands. Veltins ranks third in the industry magazine "Inside's" ranking of most drunk beer brands, trailing only Krombacher and Bitburger. The brewery in Hochsauerland generates approximately 460 million euros in revenue and employs over 700 people. Unsurprisingly, they've stated that the ongoing family dispute has no impact on their operations.
Analogous to the courtroom, the defendants' attorneys stayed tight-lipped, reiterating that the disputed claims had expired. opting not to comment on the family squabble after the trial.
The Drunken Decision: A Foolish Waiver?
Veltins, expressing his displeasure with the decision, painted a picture of a family eager to bypass him since childhood. The story began on his 18th birthday, when, still under the influence, his mother presented him with a waiver of inheritance claims. Unsuspecting, he signed without fully understanding the consequences, he asserted. However, the judges insisted that parties have certain duties to cooperate when pursuing one's rights, and Veltins had failed to meet these.
While the court did not rule on the validity of Veltins' drunken waiver, the statute of limitations had long since passed. Whether this family feud ends here remains uncertain, as an appeal to the Higher Regional Court is still possible.
The Law of Inheritance in Germany
Germany's law of compulsory shares restricts disinheritance. Despite being explicitly disinherited, children are entitled to a minimum share of an estate. Understanding these laws and the statute of limitations is crucial for navigating complex inheritance disputes.
[1] Under certain circumstances, gifts given by the deceased in the last ten years can increase the compulsory share through a claim for augmentation. A complete deprivation of the compulsory share is extremely rare, permissible only under strict conditions such as serious misconduct by the heir against the deceased.
- The bitter legal battle over Veltins' inheritance, a dispute that has spanned years, involves not only the brewing industry but also finance, general-news, and lifestyle, as his potential fortune is at stake.
- In the ongoing battle for control of the family business, Veltins' claim that his mother was not of sound mind when drafting her testament brings questions about business acumen and mental capacity into the mix, adding a layer of complexity to the general-news story.
- The ongoing family feud, which includes allegations of disinheritance and disputes over a potential 30 million euros, sheds light on the intricacies of finance and the law of inheritance in Germany, a topic of interest to both the business and general-news sectors.
