After the death of a trader, the trade may be continued for the account of the surviving spouse or surviving partner.

• the surviving spouse or surviving life partner
• the minor heirs during their minority
• the administrator of the estate, the curator of the estate or the executor of the will

may generally only be operated by deputies who are authorized in accordance with Section 45 of the German Trade Regulation Act (GewO).

Upon application, the competent authority may permit the trade to be operated without such a deputy for a period of one year after the death of the trader.

This does not affect special regulations that exist for individual trades (e.g. crafts).