Verleihung der Rechtsfähigkeit als wirtschaftlicher Verein (w. V.)

Anyone can establish an economic association. However, this is not equal to the widespread form of the e. V., but this own legal form is state-awarded under certain conditions by the Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Local Government.

Our legal system often does not provide the appropriate legal form for small "community projects". The legal form of the economic association has fallen into oblivion over time, but offers the appropriate legal framework for many projects in the low capital range. An economic association is, in contrast to an ideal association (e. V.), an association whose purpose is directed towards an economic activity. This is established on the basis of § 22 BGB. Examples of an economic association are: Village shops/ cafés, agricultural producer associations, forestry associations, marketers, educational projects, areas of contract research or other business areas not mentioned here.

• Informal application (we would like to establish an economic association).
• The protocol for the foundation of the association (we have already founded a pre-association, which is not yet legally capable).
• Proof of the election and the composition of the body authorized to represent the association (usually the board of the association) with the name and address of the elected persons (first board is Mrs. xyz, second board is Mr. zyx, ...).
• A draft statute of the association (§ 1 the name is xyz, § 2 the purpose is zyx, ...).
• Detailed justification why only the legal form of the economic association is possible and all other available legal forms such as GmbH, AG, e. V., foundation, OHG, cooperative and others are unreasonable.

• You run a "small business" in the field of civic engagement or you are a "loose association" of committed people or you want to become one of both.
• You offer certain goods or (services) for a fee or intend to do so.
• You have a low level of capitalization and other legal forms, such as the GmbH, AG, cooperative or foundation are not an option for you.

Depending on the effort involved, administrative costs of between 25 and a maximum of 1000 euros are incurred when legal capacity is granted as an economic association.

If interested, an informal application for the award or simply an expression of interest in the legal form of the economic association will suffice initially.

After all documents have been submitted, depending on the amount of testing required, but generally no longer than four weeks.

There are no special deadlines to be observed in the award procedure of the economic association.

Commitment action

• Legal capacity as an economic association Award
• An economic association, in contrast to an ideal association (e. V.), is an association whose purpose is directed towards an economic activity. Examples of an economic association are: Village shops/ cafés, agricultural producer associations, forestry associations, marketers, educational projects, areas of contract research or other business areas not mentioned here.
• If interested, an informal application for the award or simply an expression of interest in the legal form of the economic association is sufficient.
• Depending on the effort involved, administrative costs of between 25 and a maximum of 1000 euros are incurred for the successful award of legal capacity as an economic association.
• Documents:
  • Informal application (we would like to establish an economic association).
  • The minutes of the foundation of the association (we have already founded a preliminary association, which does not yet have legal capacity).
  • Proof of the election and the composition of the body authorized to represent the association (usually the board of the association) with the name and address of the elected persons (first board is Mrs. xyz, second board is Mr. zyx, ...).
  • A draft statute of the association (§ 1 the name is xyz, § 2 the purpose is zyx, ...).
  • Detailed justification why only the legal form of the economic association is possible and all other available legal forms such as GmbH, AG, e. V., foundation, OHG, cooperative and others are unreasonable.
• Responsible: Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Local Government.

Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Local Affairs
Department 21
Steigerstrasse 24
9096 Erfurt

Phone: 0361 57 3313 402
E-mail: Ref21@tmik.thueringen.de