Vorsorgevollmacht — lasting power of attorney (BMJ model form)

What is Vorsorgevollmacht (BMJ form)?

A Vorsorgevollmacht is a German power of attorney made in advance. You (the Vollmachtgeber or Vollmachtgeberin) authorise a trusted person to handle your legal affairs if illness, an accident or declining mental capacity means you can't handle them yourself. According to the Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ), a valid Vorsorgevollmacht covering the necessary areas means a court does not need to appoint a legal guardian (rechtliche Betreuung). Only an adult who has full legal capacity can grant one.

The BMJ's four-page model form has a yes/no box for each power: health care and nursing (including consent to risky treatment, medical records, and measures that deprive you of liberty), where you live and your tenancy, dealing with authorities, insurers and pension funds, managing your money and property, post and telecommunications, representation in court, sub-delegation, whether the person should be appointed as guardian if one is still needed, and whether the power lasts beyond your death. There are lines for further powers, for transactions the person may not carry out, and for other arrangements.

FileIt prints your answers into the BMJ's own PDF, asks you to decide every power explicitly, wraps longer arrangements onto the form's lines, and can pre-fill your details from the People records in your vault. The completed form is saved in your folder. You print it and both of you sign it by hand.

Who needs to fill out Vorsorgevollmacht (BMJ form)?

• Adults in Germany who want to decide in advance who acts for them if they can't, rather than leave it to a court.
• Older people planning ahead with their children or partner.
• People with a serious diagnosis who want a trusted person to be able to speak to doctors, care homes and banks.
• Married couples. Spouses have only a limited emergency right to represent each other in health matters (Ehegattennotvertretung), and a Vorsorgevollmacht goes much further.
• Families abroad with a parent living in Germany.

When to use Vorsorgevollmacht (BMJ form)

• While you are well and fully able to decide. The power can't be granted once you have lost that capacity.
• Together with, or after, writing a living will (Patientenverfügung), so someone is authorised to enforce it.
• When your circumstances change, for example a new partner or the authorised person can no longer help. You can revoke the power and make a new one while you still have capacity.

What you need before you start

• Your surname, first names, date and place of birth, address and contact details.
• The same details for the person you want to authorise, who should agree to take this on.
• A decision, yes or no, for each of the 23 powers on the form.
• Any limits, for example transactions the person may not carry out.
• Advice from a lawyer, a notary, a Betreuungsverein or your local Betreuungsbehörde if you have substantial assets or property, or want to name several people. The BMJ recommends this.

What’s on Vorsorgevollmacht (BMJ form)

The 2023 edition has 4 pages. FileIt asks for it in 9 parts:

1. You, the person giving the power (Vollmachtgeber/in)Principal (vollmachtgeber/in)
2. The authorised person (bevollmächtigte Person)Authorised person (bevollmächtigte/r)
3. 1. Health care and need for care (Gesundheitssorge/Pflegebedürftigkeit)Principal (vollmachtgeber/in)
4. 2. Where you live and your home (Aufenthalt und Wohnungsangelegenheiten)Principal (vollmachtgeber/in)
5. 3. Authorities (Behörden)Principal (vollmachtgeber/in)
6. 4. Money and property (Vermögenssorge)Principal (vollmachtgeber/in)
7. 5.–9. Post, courts, sub-delegation, guardianship and deathPrincipal (vollmachtgeber/in)
8. 10. Other arrangements (Weitere Regelungen)Principal (vollmachtgeber/in)
9. Place and date of signing (Ort, Datum)Principal (vollmachtgeber/in)

How to fill out Vorsorgevollmacht (BMJ form), step by step

1 Vollmacht (page 1)

Your name, date and place of birth, address and contact details, then the same for the authorised person (bevollmächtigte Person).

2 1. Gesundheitssorge/Pflegebedürftigkeit

Seven yes/no powers on health care and care: decisions in general and enforcing your living will, consent to treatment even where there is a risk of death or serious harm, medical records and confidentiality, placement that deprives you of liberty, measures such as bed rails or medication, compulsory medical treatment, and taking you to hospital for it. Three free lines follow for anything else.

3 2. Aufenthalt und Wohnungsangelegenheiten

Deciding where you live, your tenancy and household, a new tenancy, and a contract for housing with care.

4 3. Behörden

Representing you with authorities, insurers, pension funds and social benefit agencies, including consent under data-protection law.

5 4. Vermögenssorge

Managing your assets, disposing of them, accepting payments, taking on debts, dealing with your bank accounts and making customary gifts. There are two lines for transactions the person may not carry out. The form notes that property deals, a business or a consumer loan may need a stricter form, and suggests your bank's own account power of attorney for banking.

6 5.–9. Post, courts, sub-delegation, guardianship, death

Opening your post and e-mail, representing you in court, appointing a sub-agent, asking that this person be appointed guardian if a guardianship is still needed, and whether the power continues after your death.

7 10. Weitere Regelungen and signatures

Up to four lines of other arrangements, then place, date and handwritten signatures: the authorised person on the upper line, you on the lower one.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Leaving powers unticked. The form works by what you tick or write, so an unanswered power may not be covered.
• Signing electronically or keeping only a scan. The form says the power only works while the authorised person holds the original and can present it.
• Choosing someone you don't fully trust. The BMJ stresses that the authorised person is largely not supervised by a court. If you're unsure, it suggests a Betreuungsverfügung instead.
• Relying on this form for property sales or loans. Some transactions need public certification or a notarial deed.
• Not telling anyone where the original is kept, so it can't be found when it is needed.

After you fill it out

Print the four pages, and sign them by hand with the authorised person. Keep the four pages together.

Keep the original somewhere the authorised person knows and can reach, or give it to them, or to another trusted person to hand over when it's needed.

Optionally register the power with the Bundesnotarkammer's Zentrales Vorsorgeregister (www.vorsorgeregister.de, also online), so a court asked to appoint a guardian learns that you have authorised someone. The document itself is not filed there.

Store a scan in your FileIt vault so the family can see what was decided. FileIt never sends the form anywhere.

Vorsorgevollmacht (BMJ form): frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Blank form (PDF), published by Bundesministerium der Justiz (BMJ, Federal Ministry of Justice): https://www.bmjv.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Formular/Vorsorgevollmacht.pdf?__blob=publicationFile
• Official instructions and guidance: https://www.bmjv.de/DE/themen/vorsorge_betreuungsrecht/vorsorgevollmacht/vorsorgevollmacht_node.html
• Edition shown on this page: Formular Vollmacht, Stand: Januar 2023 (checked 2026-09-28).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bundesministerium der Justiz (BMJ, Federal Ministry of Justice) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-28.

Related forms

All Germany forms · Every form FileIt can fill