Emergency Database: Why providing for your family is a must

An accident or severe illness can hit anyone. In such an emergency, organization is vital. Learn how my digital emergency database ensures that your loved ones are immediately capable of taking action.

The Problem: Search Chaos in an Emergency

When the main earner or a parent suddenly fails, relatives often face closed doors. Where are the insurance policies? Where are the powers of attorney? Which bank accounts exist? In an emotional stress situation, searching for paper documents is an enormous additional burden.

The Solution: A Digital Safe

With my Emergency Database, I offer you a high-security, digital platform. Here we store all relevant information in one central location. From living wills to custody decrees to access data for important accounts.

Legal Security & Liability

As an insurance broker and your neutral fiduciary representative, I help you both with your insurance portfolio and with organizing your emergency documents. I am liable for my advice and ensure that everything is legally stored. Your protection is my mission.

What belongs in an emergency database?

• Power of Attorney & Living Will: So that your wishes are respected.
• Custody Decree: Who takes care of the children?
• Financial Overview: Which accounts and depots exist?
• Digital Estate: What happens to social media, cloud storage, etc.?

True Love is Provision

Leaving your loved ones order instead of chaos in an emergency is the greatest proof of love. With the emergency database, we create clarity and security for everyone involved. Let's tackle this topic together.

Which Documents Count Legally in Germany

• Lasting power of attorney (Vorsorgevollmacht): It allows a person you trust to make decisions and sign for you. Without it, the guardianship court appoints a legal guardian (§ 1814 BGB). A valid power of attorney takes priority.
• Spouse emergency representation: Since 1 January 2023, married partners may represent each other in health matters, but for no more than six months and only for medical treatment (§ 1358 BGB). It does not cover bank accounts, contracts or your home.
• Living will (Patientenverfügung): In it you state in writing which medical measures you want in certain situations and which you don't (§ 1827 BGB).
• Guardianship and custody wishes: A Betreuungsverfügung names the person the court should appoint as your guardian. For children under 18 you can name a guardian in your will.

For expats: a power of attorney from your home country is not always accepted by German banks, hospitals or authorities. A German document, ideally bilingual, avoids long discussions in an emergency.

What the Database Does Not Replace

Under German law a will is only valid if you write it entirely by hand and sign it, or have it notarised (§ 2247 BGB). A scanned draft does not replace the original. The emergency database makes sure your family knows where the original is and whom to call.

You should also register your power of attorney in the Central Register of Lasting Powers of Attorney (Zentrales Vorsorgeregister) of the German Federal Chamber of Notaries, so the guardianship court can find it. For property or loans, banks and land registries often require a notarially certified power of attorney.

Your Digital Estate

According to Germany's Federal Court of Justice, email accounts, cloud storage, social media accounts and subscriptions pass to your heirs just like letters and diaries (BGH, judgment of 12 July 2018, III ZR 183/17). Without login details, though, this turns into months of struggle with providers for your family. So store a list of your accounts and access to your password manager, and decide what should happen to each account.