Following the death of a business owner, the business may be operated on behalf of

• the surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner
• the minor heirs while they are still minors
• by the estate administrator, the estate curator, or the executor

as a rule, only by representatives qualified under § 45 of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO).

Upon application, the competent authority may permit the business to be operated without such a representative for up to one year following the death of the business owner.

Any special regulations applicable to specific trades (such as skilled trades) remain unaffected by this provision.