Browse the archive

The first claim after a road accident someone else caused, sent straight to their German motor liability insurer: the date, time and place, the other vehicle's plate, your vehicle, what happened, the damage, the police and witnesses, the amount quantified so far and your IBAN, with a request to confirm liability in principle. Under § 115 of the German Insurance Contract Act (VVG) you have a direct claim against the insurer, and you must notify it in text form within two weeks (§ 119 VVG) — a letter or an e-mail will do. In German.

A power of attorney for one matter in Germany — collecting a document, registering or deregistering a car, handing over a flat, attending an appointment at an office. With the principal and the agent, the matter described precisely, any limits, an expiry date, the return of the document and a specimen of the agent's signature. Under the German Civil Code (BGB) a power of attorney needs no particular form, but the land registry, the commercial register or disclaiming an inheritance require a publicly certified signature. In German; fill in, print, sign by hand and hand over the original.

Reporting a loss to your own German motor insurer: to the liability cover when someone else may claim against you, or to the partial or comprehensive cover (Teilkasko, Vollkasko) for damage to your own vehicle. With the policy number and plate, the date, time and place, who was driving, anyone else involved, what happened, the damage, the police and witnesses, and a question whether the insurer wants to inspect the vehicle before repair. The model motor insurance terms (AKB) ask for notice within one week; your own policy's terms govern. In German.

A general power of attorney for Austria that names what § 1008 of the Austrian Civil Code (ABGB) demands: a general power covers selling and buying, loans, collecting money, lawsuits and settlements only if these kinds of business are expressly named. It lists them, with banking, public authorities and the tax office, lets you add exceptions and further kinds, and says which acts need a separate special power. For the land register: a certified signature and no more than three years old. It is not a lasting power (Vorsorgevollmacht), which is made before a notary, lawyer or adult-protection association. In German.

The agreement by which the main tenant of a flat in Austria sublets a room in the shared flat: the room and shared use of kitchen and bathroom, rent with a flat-rate charge for costs, the deposit under § 16b of the Austrian Tenancy Act (MRG), house rules and notice. It asks how far the MRG applies, because the subtenant's protection turns on it: under full or partial application the main tenant too can end the sublease only through the court, with the ground of § 30 Abs 2 Z 12 MRG, and under full application the sublet rent is capped (§ 26 MRG). Open-ended or with an end date. In German, to print and sign.

A letter asking a German employer for a full employment reference (qualifiziertes Arbeitszeugnis) on leaving, or an interim reference (Zwischenzeugnis) while still employed — expressly covering performance and conduct, because without that request the employer owes only a basic reference stating the type and length of the work (§ 109 of the German Trade Regulation Act, GewO). It gives the job, the period of employment, the reason and a date by which the reference should be posted. No form is prescribed for the request. In German.

The letter a tenant in Germany uses to object to a landlord's ordinary notice — for own use, for example — and to demand that the tenancy continue, because moving out would be an unjustifiable hardship for the tenant or the household (§ 574 of the German Civil Code, BGB): old age, illness, pregnancy, children at school or no affordable replacement housing. Since 1 January 2025 text form is enough (§ 574b BGB); the objection must reach the landlord no later than two months before the tenancy ends. The letter gives the reasons and does not accept the notice. In German.

The declaration by which a managing director of an Austrian GmbH or FlexCo resigns under § 16a of the Austrian Limited Liability Companies Act (GmbHG) — at once for good cause, otherwise after 14 days or on a later date. The same letter goes to every shareholder; the other managing directors and any supervisory board chair receive a copy. With the request to file the end of the director's authority with the company register (Firmenbuch, § 17 GmbHG) and an acknowledgement of receipt, since receipt has to be proved. In German.

The application to Austria's tax office, the Finanzamt Österreich, to suspend collection of a disputed tax until your complaint is decided, under § 212a of the Austrian Federal Fiscal Code (BAO) — because a complaint alone does not stop payment. With the assessment, the date of the complaint, the amount and how it is worked out (§ 212a Abs 3 BAO); it can be made afresh after a request for referral to the Federal Fiscal Court (§ 212a Abs 5 BAO). While it is pending, no enforcement is taken. Through FinanzOnline, by post or fax: an e-mail is no submission at all (§§ 85, 86a BAO). In German.

The complaint (Bescheidbeschwerde) against an assessment of Austria's tax office, the Finanzamt Österreich — an income tax or VAT assessment, for example — under § 243 of the Austrian Federal Fiscal Code (BAO), due within one month of service (§ 245 BAO). It contains what § 250 BAO requires: the assessment, the points contested, the changes sought and the grounds. Optional: suspension of collection (§ 212a BAO), since a complaint does not stop payment, direct referral, an oral hearing and a panel at the Federal Fiscal Court. Submit through FinanzOnline, by post or fax: an e-mail is no submission at all (§§ 85, 86a BAO). In German.

Revoking a power of attorney in Germany: a letter to the agent asking for the power of attorney document back (§ 175 of the German Civil Code, BGB), which doubles as the notice to the bank, office or other body the power was shown or announced to — each receives a signed copy, because towards them the power stays in force until they are told it has ended (§§ 170–173 BGB). With the court route for declaring an unreturned document void (§ 176 BGB). In German; fill in, print, sign and deliver to each recipient with proof of receipt.

The letter a tenant in Germany sends to ask the landlord's permission to sublet a room or the whole flat — without it the tenant may not let anyone else use the flat (§ 540 of the German Civil Code, BGB). It names the rooms, the period and the subtenant with date of birth and address, explains the interest that arose after the lease was signed, relies for part of the flat on the claim to permission under § 553 BGB, and points to the special right to give notice if permission is refused. Letting to holiday guests is a separate choice, because ordinary permission does not cover it. In German, to print, sign and send.

A landlord's notice in Germany when the tenant is behind with the rent: without notice under § 543(2) of the German Civil Code (BGB) and, at the same time, ordinary notice in the alternative under § 573(2) no. 1 BGB — because if the tenant pays up, only the termination without notice falls away (BGH VIII ZR 106/23). The letter states the ground and every unpaid month, sets a date to hand the flat back, objects to a tacit extension and tells the tenant about the objection in text form. In German, to print and sign by hand by every landlord.

The record a landlord and tenant in Austria fill in and sign together when the tenant moves in: meter readings, keys handed over, the condition of each room, the equipment (bath, WC, heating, boiler) that sets the category and the reference rent under the Austrian Tenancy Act (MRG), known defects noted with rent reduction reserved under the Austrian Civil Code (§ 1096 ABGB), the inventory, the energy certificate and the deposit. It reminds both sides to register within three days. In German, for every Land.

The record a landlord and tenant in Germany sign when a rented flat is handed over at move-in: meter readings for electricity, gas, water and heating, every key handed over, the condition of each room and an inventory of what is let with the flat. Defects already there are accepted only with the tenant's rights reserved — under § 536b of the German Civil Code (BGB), a tenant who takes over a flat knowing of a defect otherwise loses rent reduction and damages for it. In German, to print, fill in together and sign by both sides.

The written agreement without which an Austrian district court (Bezirksgericht) may not grant an uncontested divorce under § 55a EheG, the Austrian Marriage Act: custody and the children's main home, contact, child maintenance, maintenance between the spouses, the marital home, household contents, savings, debts and a balancing payment. No notarial deed is needed (§ 97 Abs 5 EheG). The spouses must have lived apart for at least six months and, with minor children, attended parental counselling. The courts have a free form for the application. Because of § 4 Abs 2 Z 1 SVG, print and sign by hand. In German.