Frequently asked questions

Donations are tax-deductible if they are made voluntarily and without reward, for tax-privileged purposes, to tax-privileged organisations and are evidenced by a donation receipt.

For donations up to 300 euros, a simplified donation receipt in connection with your bank statement is accepted by the tax authorities as a donation receipt. You can print out the corresponding document as a PDF on our website.

Your company can support childhood cancer research through sales campaigns where a certain percentage of the sales proceeds is donated, through joint fundraising activities with the entire workforce, e.g. fundraising runs, or through individual donations.

You can organise donations for children with cancer by creating a cause or campaign donation on our website.

In Germany, approximately 2,200 children and adolescents are newly diagnosed with cancer every year.

You can donate money for children with cancer by making an individual donation on our website or by creating a cause and campaign donation for friends, relatives or colleagues.

You can give children with cancer hope for a life without impairments.

The transfer of your data when making an online donation takes place via an encrypted SSL (Secure Socket Layer) internet connection and is therefore considered secure.

A self-made will costs nothing. If a will is made with the help of a notary, the costs depend on the value of the estate and whether it is an individual will or a joint will. The costs are specified in the German Law on Court and Notary Fees (Gerichts- und Notarkostengesetz, GNotKG).

Without a will, the principle of representation applies to succession. First, the spouse and children inherit. If the testator is not married, then only the children inherit. If a child is deceased, his or her children (grandchildren of the deceased) inherit. If the deceased has neither children nor a spouse, then his or her parents inherit.

A private will can be written yourself. It must be handwritten and legible, include the place and date, have a clear heading and be signed with the full name at the end. Examples of this can be found on our website.

A will is invalid if the testator did not make it personally, voluntarily and by hand, if it is immoral or is in breach of the law. In addition, a newer will replaces an older one.

Where a will is valid, those persons who are mentioned in the will inherit. Even the closest family members do not have to be named as a benficiary by the testator, but if they are not, they can claim the compulsory portion (§ 2303 BGB).

It must be written legibly, include the place and date, have a clear heading and be signed with the full name at the end.

Non-inheritable rights such as usufruct or a right of abode do not belong to the estate. Similarly, life insurance policies of the deceased that include beneficiaries do not belong to the assets of the estate.

Gifts made less than ten years ago are included in the estate. With each year of delay before the inheritance, the portion to be added decreases by one tenth. Therefore, gifts within the last twelve months before the inheritance must be added back to the estate value in full.

Estate means the totality of goods, intrinsic values and obligations.

The estate includes everything that the deceased leaves behind. In addition to assets or obligations, this also includes documents, private writings, private property in general.

In principle, an heir or, in the case of several heirs, also the community of heirs may settle the estate. If an executor is provided for in the will, he or she may initiate appropriate measures. If the will is deposited with the local court, the probate court takes over the opening of the will. The probate court does not distribute the estate. This is the task of the surviving relatives.

Inheritance law specifies many deadlines. For example, you can only disclaim the inheritance within six weeks of becoming aware of the inheritance. Furthermore, one must have made a report to the tax office after three months at the latest. A flat rented by the deceased can only be terminated extraordinarily within one month.

The amount of inheritance tax varies with regard to the amount of the estate, the individual allowances and the tax class (depending on the degree of relationship). The maximum tax rate is currently 50%.

The compulsory portion always amounts to half of the statutory share of the inheritance.

In principle, an heir or, in the case of several heirs, the community of heirs may settle the inheritance.

To avoid inheritance tax, the testator can make gifts during his or her lifetime that are completely tax-free after 10 years. In the case of a bequest to a charitable organisation, there is also no inheritance tax.

If there are no heirs and no will, the state inherits.

In principle, an heir or, in the case of several heirs, also the community of heirs may settle the estate. If an executor is provided for in the will, he or she may initiate appropriate measures. If the will is deposited with the local court, the probate court takes over the opening of the will. The probate court does not distribute the estate. This is the task of the surviving relatives.