Recognition of debt and insolvency counseling centers ("suitable body")

• Body eligible for recognition • A body is eligible for recognition if it is under the sponsorship of an association of independent welfare work (Verband der freien Wohlfahrtspflege), a legal entity, or the Verbraucherzentrale Berlin e.V. (Berlin Consumer Advice Centre). • Bodies under the sponsorship of legal entities under private law are eligible for recognition if they pursue exclusively and directly charitable or benevolent purposes and are members of a welfare association (Wohlfahrtsverband).

• Antrag auf Anerkennung als "geeignete Stelle" (Application for recognition as a "suitable body") Please submit an informal application by post, including all required documents. • Führungszeugnis (certificate of good conduct) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/120926/ Führungszeugnis (certificate of good conduct) of the person heading the body and of the persons authorized to represent it under law, statute, or partnership agreement, pursuant to § 30 Abs. 5 Bundeszentralregistergesetz (Federal Central Register Act) (Behördenführungszeugnis, certificate of good conduct for official/authority purposes). • Nachweis der rechtlichen Geschäftsbasis (proof of legal business basis) On what legal business basis do you intend to carry out your activity? Depending on the legal business basis, proof is provided by: • Vereinssatzung (association's articles of association) and an extract from the Vereinsregister (register of associations), • an extract from the Gewerbe- or Handelsregister (trade or commercial register), • the Gesellschaftsvertrag (partnership/company agreement) for a GmbH or GbR, • the Stiftungsurkunde (founding charter) for foundations under civil law, • a Freistellungsbescheid (tax exemption notice) or tax clearance certificate from the Finanzamt (tax office), • a membership certificate from the welfare association • Schriftliche Erklärung über anhängige Strafverfahren (written declaration regarding pending criminal proceedings) Written declaration by the person heading the body and by the persons authorized to represent it under law, statute, or partnership agreement, stating that no criminal proceedings are pending against them. • Nachweis über Anlegung auf Dauer (proof of permanent establishment) Proof of permanent establishment is provided by submitting • proof of financing, • employment contracts for the three persons working at the body • and the tenancy agreement. • Sachbericht zur Rechtsberatung (factual report on legal advice) Factual report on the type and extent to which legal advice is ensured, if applicable through external cooperation with a lawyer qualified to practice law (having passed the second state examination). • Schriftliche Erklärung zur Ausübung Kredit-, Finanz-, Finanzvermittlungs- oder ähnlichen Diensten (written declaration regarding the provision of credit, financial, financial brokerage, or similar services) Written declaration by the person heading the body and by the persons authorized to represent it under law, statute, or partnership agreement, stating that they do not currently provide credit, financial, financial brokerage, or similar services on a commercial basis, and have not done so in the three years preceding the application. • Nachweis der Ausbildung und Berufserfahrung (proof of training and professional experience) (originals or certified copies) Submission of originals or certified copies of proof of training and professional experience for at least three persons working full-time in debt counseling (Schuldnerberatung), and submission of the employment contracts for the employees of the counseling body. One person must provide proof of three years of experience in debt counseling. • Nachweis geeigneter Räume (proof of suitable premises) Proof of suitable premises for counseling sessions, in which data protection and confidentiality in particular can be ensured. Proof is provided by the tenancy agreement, the floor plan, and an on-site inspection. • Nachweis einer bürotechnischen Mindestausstattung (proof of minimum office equipment) Proof of a minimum level of office equipment that can be expected to enable the proper performance of duties. • Schriftliche Erklärung über wirtschaftliche Verhältnisse (written declaration regarding financial circumstances) Written declaration by the person heading the body and by the persons authorized to represent it under law, statute, or partnership agreement, stating that they live in orderly financial circumstances. A person does not live in orderly financial circumstances if, within the last ten years, they have given an eidesstattliche Versicherung (affidavit in lieu of an oath) under § 807 Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO, Code of Civil Procedure), or if bankruptcy, composition, general enforcement, or insolvency proceedings have been opened against their assets, or the opening of such proceedings has been refused for lack of assets, or if they are listed in a court debtor register (Schuldnerverzeichnis). • Verpflichtungserklärung (declaration of commitment) Declaration of commitment to participate in a prescribed half-yearly reporting system (statistics) and to submit an annual activity report.

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• Insolvenzordnung (InsO, Insolvency Code) § 305 para. 1 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/inso/__305.html • Gesetz zur Auführung der Insolvenzordnung (AGInsO, Act Implementing the Insolvency Code) gesetze.berlin.de/perma?j=InsOAG_BE

• Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft Schuldner- und Insolvenzberatung Berlin e.V. (State Working Group for Debt and Insolvency Counseling Berlin, registered association) www.schuldnerberatung-berlin.de/ • List of recognized debt and insolvency counseling centers www.berlin.de/sen/soziales/besondere-lebenssituationen/schul • Legal provisions www.berlin.de/sen/soziales/service/berliner-sozialrecht/kate