Legal Guardianship
For adults who, due to age, illness, disability, or an accident, find themselves unable to manage crucial aspects of their lives (e.g., organizing medical and nursing care, settling financial matters, or corresponding with government agencies and other institutions), legal guardianship may be necessary.
After 7 years at the latest, the guardianship court will review whether the guardianship should be extended or terminated.
I would like to propose the establishment of a legal guardianship system
A request to establish guardianship may be filed with the competent guardianship court on behalf of any affected person who resides in the Fulda district. Depending on the person’s place of residence, the competent guardianship court is either in Fulda or in Hünfeld.
After the request is filed with the competent guardianship court, the guardianship authority is tasked with contacting the person in need of care and their relatives to assess their needs. Furthermore, the guardianship authority proposes suitable guardians to the guardianship court who are willing to support the person in question in their affairs.
Should any questions or conflicts arise, the guardianship authority acts as a liaison between the person in question, the guardian, and the guardianship court.Required documents:
- Application to Initiate Legal Guardianship (see "Downloads")
- Power of Attorney for Health Care, if applicable
- Medical reports or diagnoses, if applicable
Please note that the application must be addressed to the competent guardianship court and not to the guardianship authority. Including your phone number and/or email address on the application will make it easier to contact you later.
I need a power of attorney for health care as part of my guardianship
A power of attorney for future use allows a person to be authorized in advance to handle the legal affairs of the principal, within the scope of the granted power of attorney, should the need arise.
The power of attorney for health care can be certified by the guardianship authority. Public certification of the power of attorney for health care confirms that the signature is genuine and reflects the will of the principal. Certification ensures that relevant authorities recognize the power of attorney and that doubts about its validity can be avoided.
Public certification is required, for example, in the following cases:
- Declarations to the Commercial Register
- Declaration of Renunciation of an Inheritance
- Applying for a Passport or ID Card
- Taking Out Loans
- Changes to the Land Register
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or to schedule a consultation.
Prerequisites:
- To grant a power of attorney for health care, the person granting the power of attorney must be of legal age and have legal capacity. This means that the person must be able to understand what they are declaring and the consequences of their signature,
- It must be possible to move the pen,
- The power of attorney for health care or advance directive must be in writing
Required documents:
- A valid form of identification (e.g., ID card or passport),
- The Power of Attorney for Health Care/Guardianship Order in written form
What are the fees?
A certification fee of 10 euros will be charged.
Processing Time: The certification of the power of attorney for financial matters or the guardianship order is completed in a single appointment and takes 30–60 minutes.What else should I know?
The guardianship authority does not provide advice on living wills. If you have any questions, please contact your family doctor. Powers of attorney for healthcare can also be drawn up in two languages.I would like to become a professional guardian
As a professional guardian, you represent the legal interests of adults who need assistance in managing their day-to-day affairs.
This position offers you:
- a diverse field of work
- collaboration with various groups of people
- flexible work schedules (part-time or full-time)
- competitive compensation
- Self-Employment
- a good work-life balance
These tasks may include, for example:
- the organization of medical and nursing care
- Applying for Social Benefits
- asset management
The tasks require
- Empathy
- the ability to engage with different ways of life
- Strong communication skills
- A solution-oriented approach
- Organizational skills
- Sense of Responsibility
- Assertiveness
To register as a professional guardian, those new to the profession must demonstrate their expertise. This continuing education program is divided into eleven modules and comprises 360 instructional hours. Those who have passed the second state bar exam or hold a state-recognized degree in social work or social pedagogy may begin working in this field immediately.
Are you interested in working as a professional guardian? Please contact the guardianship authority.I would like to volunteer as a caregiver
In addition to taking on guardianship responsibilities for family members and acquaintances, there is also the option of serving as a volunteer guardian. The local VdK guardianship association regularly offers training courses for volunteer guardians. In addition, a certificate of good conduct and an extract from the debtors’ register must be submitted to the guardianship authority.
Are you interested in volunteering as a guardian? Please contact the guardianship authority.