Legal: templates and forms

A power of attorney for one transaction or one kind of business in Austria: a visit to an authority, collecting a document, registering a car, handing over a flat, a single sale. Under § 1008 of the Austrian Civil Code (ABGB) it must name the business precisely — for a gift or accepting an inheritance, the single transaction. Before authorities it proves the agent’s authority in writing (§ 10 AVG, § 83 BAO). With an expiry date, restrictions and room for certification if it is used in the land register. In German, ready to print and sign.

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.

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.

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 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.