In Germany, legal succession is structured according to orders. Priority orders exclude lower-ranking orders. For example, if there are heirs of the first order, the heirs of the second and later orders are excluded from succession. If an heir has predeceased, their descendants take their place with equal rights and share their share of the inheritance.
Heirs of the first order are the descendants (children, grandchildren, etc.) of the deceased. Heirs of the second order are the parents of the deceased and their descendants - i.e. siblings of the deceased. Heirs of the third order are the grandparents of the deceased and their descendants. German inheritance law does not set an upper limit on the order of inheritance. The state therefore only inherits if there is no relative, spouse or partner of the deceased.
Children inherit in equal shares. No distinction is made between legitimate and illegitimate children.
The parents of the deceased inherit in equal shares. If a parent has predeceased the deceased, their descendants take their place with equal rights. If there are no descendants, the surviving parent inherits alone.
There is also a special right of inheritance for the surviving spouse (spouse's right of inheritance). This is defined in a separate contribution treated.