will donation
Give children a future with your legacy
How should what I have built up in my life continue to have an impact on future generations? Writing a will gives you the opportunity to decide for yourself how your life's work will continue to have an impact on you beyond the duration of your existence.
If the welfare of the world's poorest children is one of your heart's issues, you can make a special contribution to combating child poverty with a legacy donation.
We are happy to provide you with all the information you need to decide how and whether you would like to include steps for children in your will.
information brochure on testamentary donations
Do something good with your legacy? Our information brochure on legacy donations offers you guidance on how you can make this possible.
In addition to explanations of how to draw up and keep a will and sample wills, you will also find all the information you need to remember steps for children with a legacy.
Questions and answers about your testamentary donation
A will is always useful if you want to arrange your estate differently than the legal succession For example, if you want to remember people you are not related to, give specific assets to specific people, or leave a legacy to a charitable organization.
Heirs not only receive the right to access your estate, but also the responsibilities that come with accepting it, such as managing the estate or paying off debts. A legacy transfers a specific asset without creating any obligations for the legatee.
Steps for children can only be supported with a bequest of monetary value. As a small foundation with relatively low administrative expenses, we cannot handle the bureaucratic effort that comes with an inheritance or the administration of bequeathed property. We are all the more pleased that your legacy donation will go directly to the children in the form of a bequest.
A will can be written either in the handwriting (i.e. independently and exclusively in handwriting) or “publicly” (i.e. certified by a notary or dictated to one).
Both the handwritten and the public will are legally valid if they are drawn up and worded correctly. By consulting a notary, you can minimize the risk of choosing ambiguous wording, the legality of which can be contested in case of doubt.
A will can be kept in a safe place in your home, which you should ideally inform your relatives about, or it can be deposited in official custody at the local court. This costs 75 euros for storage, plus an additional 15 euros for entry in the central will register. (Source: Federal Ministry of Justice, 2024)
You can leave a bequest of a monetary value of your choosing to Steps for Children in your will. Please note the following:
The legacy must be clearly identified as such
The full name and address of the foundation must be stated
The amount/percentage of the legacy must be listed
When making a legacy to the steps for children foundation, always provide the following information:
Steps for children foundation
Bramfelder Strasse 77
22305 Hamburg
Sample wording for a will with a legacy to steps for children can be found in our information brochure on legacy donations.
A will can be revoked at any time. If you want to change your will, you should destroy the outdated will and explicitly revoke it in your new, most current will. Suitable wording for this can be found in the Sample wills in our information brochure.
Information on German inheritance law can be found in the guide "Inheritance and Bequest" of the Federal Ministry of JusticeIn complex cases, it is advisable to seek advice from a competent notary or a law firm specialising in inheritance law.
*Important note: The information on this page has been carefully compiled. However, we cannot accept any liability for the completeness, accuracy and timeliness of the content of this site. The content is intended solely as a non-binding guide. It is not a substitute for advice on inheritance law in individual cases, which is why we recommend consulting a knowledgeable notary or a law firm specializing in inheritance law. Steps for children cannot offer legal advice or information.