Power of Attorney Switzerland (Vollmacht)

A Power of Attorney Switzerland (Vollmacht) is a legal instrument by which one person (Vollmachtgeber or Auftraggeber — the principal) authorises another person (Bevollmächtigter or Beauftragter — the agent or attorney-in-fact) to act on their behalf in legal transactions, governed by the Swiss Code of Obligations (Obligationenrecht, OR) Articles 32 through 40 on agency and representation (Stellvertretung). The Vollmacht enables the Bevollmächtigter to enter into contracts, manage assets, conduct legal proceedings, or perform administrative acts that bind the Vollmachtgeber directly.

Article 32 OR establishes the fundamental principle of direct representation (direkte Stellvertretung): when the Bevollmächtigter acts within the scope of the Vollmacht and discloses the agency relationship, the legal effects of the transaction bind the Vollmachtgeber directly.

Swiss law distinguishes several types of Vollmacht based on scope and purpose. The Generalvollmacht authorises the agent to handle all legal and financial affairs of the principal. The Spezialvollmacht is limited to specific transactions. The Prokura (commercial power of attorney under OR Articles 458-465) is a special form granted by business owners, recorded in the Handelsregister.

The Vorsorgeauftrag (advance directive or lasting power of attorney) under ZGB Articles 360 through 373 — introduced by the Swiss adult protection law reform (Kindes- und Erwachsenenschutzrecht) effective 1 January 2013 — is a distinct instrument allowing a person with Urteilsfähigkeit to designate a trusted person to manage their personal care (Personensorge), financial affairs (Vermögenssorge), and legal representation (Vertretung im Rechtsverkehr) in the event they lose capacity. The Vorsorgeauftrag must be either entirely handwritten (eigenhändig errichtet — handwritten, dated, and signed) or notarially authenticated (öffentlich beurkundet) under Article 361 ZGB.

The Kindes- und Erwachsenenschutzbehörde (KESB) plays a central role: when a person loses Urteilsfähigkeit, the KESB validates the Vorsorgeauftrag under Article 363 ZGB. If no Vorsorgeauftrag exists, the KESB may establish a Beistandschaft (deputyship) under ZGB Articles 390-425.

The Vollmacht may be revoked by the Vollmachtgeber at any time under Article 34 paragraph 1 OR. The Prokura requires revocation entry in the Handelsregister to be effective against third parties.

A Power of Attorney Switzerland is required whenever a person (Vollmachtgeber) needs another person (Bevollmächtigter) to act on their behalf in legal, financial, or administrative matters. A Vollmacht is needed when the principal is temporarily unable to handle their own affairs due to travel, illness, or hospitalization. Swiss banks require a specific Bankvollmacht. A property transaction requires a notarially authenticated Vollmacht. A Vorsorgeauftrag under ZGB Articles 360-369 is needed when a person with current Urteilsfähigkeit wishes to plan for potential future incapacity.

A valid Power of Attorney Switzerland under OR Articles 32 through 40 and, for the Vorsorgeauftrag, ZGB Articles 360 through 373, must contain the following essential elements: identification of principal with AHV number and legal capacity declaration, identification of agent with substitute agent, scope of authority (Generalvollmacht vs. Spezialvollmacht vs. Vorsorgeauftrag), duration and conditions, Vorsorgeauftrag-specific provisions for Personensorge / Vermögenssorge / Vertretung, revocation and termination provisions, and notarial authentication where required.

To prepare a Vorsorgeauftrag Switzerland, write the entire document by hand (eigenhändig) — including the date in DD.MM.YYYY format and your signature — or have it notarially authenticated under ZGB Article 361. Specify clearly which of the three areas (Personensorge, Vermögenssorge, Vertretung im Rechtsverkehr) you are granting to the Vorsorgebeauftragter, and include any special instructions per ZGB Article 360 paragraph 3. Register the existence of the Vorsorgeauftrag in the central register of the Swiss Red Cross (SRK) and with your Zivilstandsamt to ensure the KESB can locate it. For an ordinary Vollmacht, use clear written form; for real estate transactions, obtain notarial authentication.

The Vorsorgeauftrag must meet the formal requirements of ZGB Article 361 — entirely handwritten or notarially authenticated. An ordinary Vollmacht under OR Article 32-40 requires no specific form, except where the underlying transaction requires notarization (e.g., real estate under OR Article 216). The Vorsorgeauftrag takes effect only after KESB validation under ZGB Article 363. The Vorsorgebeauftragter must be a natural person (not a legal entity) under ZGB Article 360 paragraph 2. The KESB may revoke the Vorsorgeauftrag under ZGB Article 368 if the Vorsorgebeauftragter fails to fulfil their duties.

The most critical error is creating a Vorsorgeauftrag by typing it and signing — ZGB Article 361 requires the entire document to be handwritten or notarially authenticated. Typed documents without notarization are void. Another common mistake is failing to register the Vorsorgeauftrag in the central register of the Swiss Red Cross (SRK) and with the Zivilstandsamt — if the KESB cannot find the document when needed, it will establish a Beistandschaft instead. Using a legal entity as the Vorsorgebeauftragter is invalid. Forgetting to designate a substitute Vorsorgebeauftragter creates problems if the primary person cannot act. Finally, many people neglect to coordinate the Vorsorgeauftrag with a complementary Patientenverfügung under ZGB Article 370.