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Does legal expenses insurance pay for a power of attorney and living will?

In short

Does legal expenses insurance pay for a power of attorney and living will? In Germany only if your policy has a separate provision module, usually capped at EUR 100 to 1,000 a year. Standard advice cover does not apply because nothing has changed your legal position. Without the module you pay yourself: a first consultation with a lawyer costs consumers at most EUR 190 net.

Does legal expenses insurance pay for a power of attorney and living will?

What it costs

Documented fees and policy limits as of November 2026, so you can compare a module with your own costs.

ExampleTypical range
Provision module in legal expenses insurance, depending on policyup to EUR 100 to 1,000 per insurance year
First consultation with a lawyer, consumer, no fee agreementat most EUR 190 net
Further advice from a lawyer, no fee agreementat most EUR 250 net
Notarised power of attorney, assets EUR 50,000 to 500,000about EUR 161 to 1,136 with expenses and VAT
Signature certified by the care authorityEUR 10
Central register, online or by postEUR 24 to 29.50 once
Private and traffic legal cover, single, EUR 300 excess, example from a direct insurerfrom EUR 17.43 a month

Fees from statute and the register's fee rules,

notary fees from published sample calculations under table B of the German court and notary fees

act.

Your policy conditions state the limit for provision and whether notary fees are included.

We obtain the exact offer for you.

Worked example

Retired woman, EUR 250,000 in assets, lawyer advice and notarisation

She wants to discuss her power of attorney and living will with a lawyer and have the power of attorney notarised. Lawyer costs are calculated at the statutory maximum.

Advice from a lawyer, at most EUR 250 netEUR 297.50
Notary, power of attorney, value EUR 125,000about EUR 381
Central register onlineEUR 24
Refund with a module up to EUR 100EUR 100
Refund with a module up to EUR 1,000, lawyer onlyEUR 297.50

About EUR 700 in total. A small module saves EUR 100, a large one about EUR 300. With a template and certification at the care authority it would be EUR 34.

Why standard legal cover does not pay here

German legal expenses insurance pays when an insured event has occurred. Under the industry association's model conditions, the event for advice in family and inheritance law is something that changes your legal position, such as a death in the family.

Drafting a lasting power of attorney (Vorsorgevollmacht) or a living will (Patientenverfügung) is planning ahead, not a case. That is why basic cover does not pay. Some insurers sell a separate provision module, mostly in their higher tiers.

ServicePolicy without provision modulePolicy with provision module
Advice on a lasting power of attorneynoyes, up to the policy limit
Advice on a living willnoyes, up to the policy limit
Online assistant or templatessometimesoften included
Advice on inheritance law after a deathyes, under advice coveryes

How much a provision module pays

The limits vary widely. One direct insurer pays up to EUR 100 per insurance year for drafting a living will, care directive and lasting power of attorney. Another insurer pays up to EUR 1,000 in its higher tiers for a power of attorney or living will.

EUR 100 does not even cover a first lawyer consultation. With EUR 1,000 a thorough consultation is usually paid. Whether notary fees count depends on the policy, so check the amount and what it applies to.

What it costs without insurance

A lasting power of attorney in Germany does not have to be made at a notary. You can fill in a template and sign it. The local care authority (Betreuungsbehörde) certifies your signature for EUR 10, and registration in the Central Register costs EUR 24 online.

A notary charges according to your assets. The value of the power of attorney is at most half of your assets and capped at EUR 1 million. With assets of EUR 250,000 the fee is EUR 300, about EUR 381 with expenses and VAT. A living will alone costs the minimum notary fee of EUR 60 net.

When the module is worth it and when it is not

It makes sense if you want legal cover for private life anyway and would like to go through both documents with a lawyer, for example with property, a business or a blended family.

You do not need it if a template is enough. Free online tools use the federal justice ministry's template texts. Personal advice at a consumer advice centre costs, for example, EUR 120 for 90 minutes. Taking out a policy just for one consultation rarely pays off.

Step by step

  1. Search your policy conditions for provision, living will or power of attorney.
  2. Note the limit per insurance year and check whether it covers only the lawyer or also the notary.
  3. Ask your insurer to confirm cover before the appointment.
  4. Sign the power of attorney and have it certified by the care authority or notarised.
  5. Register the power of attorney in the Central Register.

Checklist

  • Provision module named explicitly in the policy
  • Limit at least as high as a lawyer consultation
  • Clear rule on whether notary fees are refunded
  • Online assistant or templates included
  • Power of attorney registered in the Central Register

Common mistakes

  • Assuming advice cover in family and inheritance law includes planning documents
  • Relying on a EUR 100 limit and expecting a full lawyer's bill to be paid
  • Taking out a policy just for one consultation
  • Not registering the finished power of attorney, so nobody finds it in an emergency

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Do I need a notary for a power of attorney in Germany?

Not necessarily.

You can print, fill in and sign a template.

Certification of your signature by the care authority costs EUR 10.

What does the Central Register cost?

EUR 24 online with direct debit, EUR 29.50 by post with bank transfer, both one-off.

Changes and revocation are free.

Are there free templates?

Yes.

Online tools with the federal justice ministry's template texts are free.

Personal advice you then pay yourself.

Does the insurance pay if the power of attorney is later challenged?

A dispute over an existing power of attorney is a separate case.

Whether it is covered depends on the area of law and your policy.

Can I use the benefit every year?

Some policies state the limit per insurance year.

Whether a later change is paid again depends on the policy.

Sources

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