Vermächtnis

German

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˌfɛɐ̯ˈmɛçtnɪs], [ˌfɐˈmɛçtnɪs], [ˌfɛɐ̯ˈmɛːçtnɪs], [ˌfɐˈmɛːçtnɪs]
Audio (file)

Noun

Vermächtnis n (strong, genitive Vermächtnisses, plural Vermächtnisse)

(law) bequest, devise, legacy (the devising a subjective right to be owned by a particular person following death)
Synonym: Legat

Usage notes

In rump-Germany’s, Switzerland’s, Austria’s and Liechtenstein’s internal laws only the legatum damnationis occurs, so the legatee will have a claim against the heir to transfer the right in the legacy, unlike in Belgium, Luxemburg, Poland or most other continental law countries, where the legatum vindicationis allows the legatee to directly obtain the property right with the death of the deceased. (Although, if the law applicable to the inheritance after private international law rules (Statut) is e.g. Polish then a legatum vindicationis may be directly effective even it is immobile property situated in the Federal Republic of Germany.)

Declension

Declension of Vermächtnis [neuter, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	das	Vermächtnis	die	Vermächtnisse
genitive	eines	des	Vermächtnisses	der	Vermächtnisse
dative	einem	dem	Vermächtnis, Vermächtnisse¹	den	Vermächtnissen
accusative	ein	das	Vermächtnis	die	Vermächtnisse

¹Now uncommon, see notes.