On the requirement to arrive at a fee agreement between heir locator and heir:
A locator of commercially unknown heirs has no legal compensation claims against the heirs located by him as a result of actions without commission or unjustified enrichment. The locator of heirs can claim compensation only if he signs a fee agreement with the heir. Therefore companies in the business of locating heirs are advised to "sell" the results of their research to the entitled heirs on the basis of a fee agreement.
On the amount of customary fees charged by locators of heirs and the legal validity of fee agreements:
"The court follows the adjudication of the Federal Court of Justice and the higher courts, according to which work in connection with locating heirs should be compensated on the basis of a fee of up to 30% of the net inheritance amount.
An indicator for the appropriateness of the fee charged by a locator of an heir is customary practice according to which customarily a fee of up to 30% of the inheritance is agreed.
Regarding the legal validity of a fee agreement between the locator of an heir and the heir in the amount of 28% of the estate plus VAT.
Regarding the legal validity of a fee agreement between the locator of an heir and the heir in the amount of 25% of the estate plus VAT.
The agreement between the locator of an heir and an heir found by him on 30%, plus VAT, of the estate assets accruing to the heir is legally valid.