Appoint a legal guardian

• Legal age A legal guardianship can only be ordered for persons of legal age. • Illness, disability and need of assistance A mental illness or a physical, mental or psychological disability must prevent the person concerned from • managing their affairs wholly or in part on their own • granting power of attorney to a third party • supervising the actions of the person holding power of attorney. • Right to apply • The person concerned can apply for the guardianship themselves. • A guardianship can also be suggested by another person (e.g. relatives, neighbours, authorities), or • be initiated by the authority on its own initiative.

• Antrag/Anregung einer rechtlichen Betreuung (application for or suggestion of a legal guardianship) You can submit the application or suggestion in writing, or have it recorded in person at the Rechtsantragsstelle (legal applications office) of the Betreuungsgericht (guardianship court). You can also use the sample form provided. • Ärztliches Attest oder ärztliches Gutachten (medical certificate or medical report) If a medical certificate (e.g. from your general practitioner) or a medical report is available, you should submit it. • Aufgabenkreise (areas of responsibility) You can name the matters that need to be dealt with, for example: • Health • Housing matters • Representation before authorities • Determination of residence • Care home matters • Opening mail • Financial matters • Inheritance matters.

• Application/petition for a rechtliche Betreuung (legal guardianship) www.berlin.de/gerichte/_assets/was-moechten-sie-erledigen/an

• If the guardianship (Betreuung) includes asset management (Vermögenssorge), costs (fees and expenses) are only incurred if the assets of the person concerned, after deduction of all liabilities, exceed the allowance of 25,000.00 euros. In this case, a fee of 10.00 euros is charged annually for every 5,000.00 euros of assets exceeding the allowance, but at least 200.00 euros. For assets between 25,000.00 euros and 125,000.00 euros, the minimum fee of 200.00 euros therefore always applies. • If asset management is not part of the guardianship's area of responsibility, an annual fee of 300.00 euros is charged – unless the assets of the person concerned are proven to the Betreuungsgericht (guardianship court). The calculation can then be made as described above. Please therefore, in the interest of the person concerned, provide the Betreuungsgericht with proof of the amount of assets. • In addition to the annual fee, further costs may be incurred (e.g. for medical reports, remuneration, or reimbursement of expenses for the person providing the guardianship).

• Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) [German Civil Code] § 1814 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__1814.html • Gesetz über das Verfahren in Familiensachen und in den Angelegenheiten der freiwilligen Gerichtsbarkeit (FamFG) [Act on Proceedings in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-Contentious Jurisdiction] §§ 271 to 273 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/famfg/BJNR258700008.html#BJNR2587 • Gesetz über die Kosten der freiwilligen Gerichtsbarkeit für Gerichte und Notare (GNotKG) [Act on Court and Notary Costs in Non-Contentious Matters], Annex 1 (to § 3 paragraph 2), Schedule of Costs (Kostenverzeichnis, KV) No. 11101 and 11102 as well as in Preliminary Note 1 paragraph 2 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gnotkg/anlage_1.html

• Brochure on Betreuungsrecht (guardianship law) (Bundesministerium für Justiz und Verbraucherschutz — Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection) www.bmj.de/SharedDocs/Publikationen/DE/Broschueren/Betreuung • Directory of Locations and Courts (Justizportal) www.justizadressen.nrw.de/de/justiz/suche

Local responsibility lies with the Amtsgericht (local court) in whose district the person concerned has their habitual residence.