Fill in Patientenverfügung online
Living will (advance directive) setting out which medical treatments you do or don't want.
Do not sign this form electronically. Patientenverfügung has to be signed by hand, in person or through the agency’s own filing system. You can type your details into the PDF here, then print it and follow the official instructions to sign and submit it.
Patientenverfügung at a glance
- Official name
- Patientenverfügung (Textbausteine)
- Issued by
- Bundesministerium der Justiz und für Verbraucherschutz (BMJV)
- Country
- Germany
- Category
- Health
- Language
- German
- Who uses it
- Adults.
- Signature
Print and sign by hand
§ 1827 BGB requires a Patientenverfügung to be set down in writing, which in German law means signing it by hand. It can be revoked at any time without any formality.
A Patientenverfügung (living will or advance directive) records in writing which medical examinations and treatments you agree to or refuse if you can no longer decide for yourself. Adults of any age can make one, and the Federal Ministry of Justice publishes text modules (Textbausteine) to help you word it. Open the official modules from bmjv.de in BunnyDoc's free Sign PDF tool, type your choices into the document and download it to print and sign by hand. The PDF is handled in your browser and never leaves your device.
How to fill in Patientenverfügung
Open the text modules
Open the BMJV Textbausteine from this page. The ministry describes them as suggestions and wording aids, taken from its Patientenverfügung brochure, not a fixed form.
Describe the situations it should apply to
Choose the medical situations in which your directive should apply, for example the final stage of a terminal illness or a lasting loss of consciousness. Be as specific as you can.
Set out what you want and do not want
Use the modules to state your wishes on measures such as life-sustaining treatment, artificial nutrition and hydration, resuscitation, ventilation, antibiotics and pain relief.
Add your personal wishes
Add where you would like to be treated, who should be with you, and your views on organ donation, and refer to any Vorsorgevollmacht you have made.
Print, sign and date by hand
Print the finished text, sign it and add the date. A handwritten signature is needed to meet the written form required by § 1827 BGB.
Keep it where it can be found
Give copies to your doctor and to the person you trust, and tell them where the original is kept. Review it from time to time and re-sign it if your wishes change.
What you need before you start
- Time to think about the situations and treatments you want to cover. Talking to your doctor can help.
- The name of a trusted person, ideally someone you have also appointed in a Vorsorgevollmacht.
- The BMJV text modules.
Can I sign a Patientenverfügung electronically?
No. § 1827 BGB says a Patientenverfügung is a written statement made by an adult who is able to consent. Written form in German law means a document signed by hand, so print it and sign it yourself. You can revoke it at any time, and the law says no form is needed for that.
A notary is not required.
Common mistakes
- Using vague phrases such as "no life-prolonging measures" without naming the situations and treatments they apply to.
- Contradicting yourself between modules.
- Not signing and dating the printed document.
- Keeping it where nobody will find it in an emergency.
Patientenverfügung: frequently asked questions
Does a Patientenverfügung need to be notarised?
No. It must be in writing and signed by you, but a notary is not required.
Can I sign a Patientenverfügung electronically?
No. § 1827 BGB requires written form, which means a handwritten signature. Type it on screen if you like, then print it and sign by hand.
Can I change or cancel it later?
Yes. Under § 1827 BGB you can revoke it at any time without any formality. To change it, make a new version and sign and date it.
Do I have to use the BMJV text modules?
No. The ministry describes them as suggestions and wording aids. You can write your own text, as long as it is specific and signed.
Who should get a copy?
Your doctor and the person you trust, such as the attorney in your Vorsorgevollmacht. Tell them where the signed original is kept.
Is BunnyDoc connected to the BMJV?
No. BunnyDoc is not affiliated with the Federal Ministry of Justice. We link to the official text modules on bmjv.de and give you a free tool to fill them in your browser.
BunnyDoc is not affiliated with Bundesministerium der Justiz und für Verbraucherschutz (BMJV). Always download the latest edition from the official site and follow its instructions for signing and filing.
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