Federal government plans access to forgotten accounts: AfD warns!

Federal government plans access to forgotten accounts: AfD warns!

What happens to the forgotten accounts in Germany? This question is at the center of the current discussion about the federal government's planned access to balances in dormant accounts. Kay Gottschalk, the financial policy spokesman for the AfD parliamentary group, recently expressed criticism of the government's considerations. According to afdbundestag.de, this is a gradual step towards the expropriation of citizens. Gottschalk warns that property rights are increasingly being undermined. People who are unable to actively use their accounts due to age or illness could be disadvantaged as a result.

The estimated two to nine billion euros that are lying dormant in such dormant accounts could soon come under the government's attention. These accounts have been maintained for years without deposits or contact with the bank. According to legal requirements, banks are allowed to record the money from such accounts as profit after 30 years, provided no heirs come forward. But how can relatives proceed in such a case? Juraforum gives helpful tips on this.

Searching for heritage made easy

To search for dormant accounts, we recommend making specific inquiries to banking associations. These requests can be supported for the heirs by means of copies of inheritance certificates or court opening documents. Those responsible for the investigation include:

• Sparkassen: nachforschung@dsgv.de
• Volks- und Raiffeisenbanken: www.bvr.de/Service/Kontonachforschung
• Privatbanken: nachforschung@bdb.de

Please note that fees for information may apply depending on the association. It can also be worthwhile to look beyond national borders to suspected accounts abroad, for example in Switzerland. The central contact point at the ombudsman is affected here, but it only records active accounts.

Prevention is better than cure

A practical tip for the future: It is advisable to create an overview of all bank details during your lifetime. This overview could make estate management much easier for relatives. This is also emphasized by financial advice, which points out that searching for forgotten accounts can be particularly lucrative if the inheritance is larger. In any case, quick action is required, as an inheritance can only be rejected within six weeks of becoming aware of it in order not to be held liable.

The debate surrounding access to such accounts and the associated legal questions remains exciting. Gottschalk and the AfD are committed to parliamentary resistance to access to citizens' property, which can certainly heat up people's tempers against the background of socialist politics. In this situation, both citizens and heirs are required to find out about their rights and, if necessary, take action.