die
Vollmacht
📜 What exactly is a Vollmacht?
Die Vollmacht (feminine, plural: die Vollmachten) refers to the authorization or power of attorney to legally act on behalf of another person (the Vollmachtgeber - principal). It allows the authorized person (the Bevollmächtigte(r) - agent or attorney-in-fact) to represent the principal in specific or all matters.
There is only one article for this word: die, as it's a feminine noun. There are no exceptions or common mistakes regarding the article. ⚠️ Be careful not to confuse die Vollmacht (the authorization itself) with der/die Bevollmächtigte (the person holding the authorization).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-acht → almost always feminine.
Wisdom, power, rules → mostly feminine.
🧐 Grammar & Declension of Vollmacht
The word "Vollmacht" is a feminine noun. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Vollmacht |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Vollmacht |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Vollmacht |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Vollmacht |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Vollmachten |
| Genitive | der | Vollmachten |
| Dative | den | Vollmachten |
| Accusative | die | Vollmachten |
📝 Example Sentences
- Er erteilte seiner Anwältin die Vollmacht, ihn vor Gericht zu vertreten.
He gave his lawyer the power of attorney to represent him in court. - Ohne schriftliche Vollmacht dürfen Sie hier keine Entscheidungen treffen.
Without written authorization, you are not allowed to make decisions here. - Die Bank benötigt eine beglaubigte Kopie der Vollmacht.
The bank requires a certified copy of the power of attorney. - Mit dieser Vollmacht kann er das Geschäft abschließen.
With this authorization, he can finalize the deal. - Wir haben verschiedene Vollmachten für unterschiedliche Zwecke ausgestellt.
We have issued various authorizations (powers of attorney) for different purposes.
💡 Application and Context
Die Vollmacht is a central term in legal and business contexts. Here are typical use cases:
- Legal Representation: A lawyer needs a Vollmacht to represent a client (Mandant).
- Business Transactions: Employees (e.g., those with Prokura) receive powers of attorney (Vollmachten) to sign contracts or conduct other business on behalf of the company (e.g., Handlungsvollmacht, Prokura).
- Personal Affairs: Someone can grant a trusted person a Vollmacht to handle banking matters (Bankvollmacht) or deal with authorities (Postvollmacht - often includes more than just post).
- Healthcare/Advance Directives: The Vorsorgevollmacht is a specific type of power of attorney that appoints someone to make decisions if the principal becomes incapacitated (e.g., due to illness or accident).
The scope of a Vollmacht can vary greatly, from a Einzelvollmacht (special power of attorney) for a specific action to a Generalvollmacht (general power of attorney), which authorizes almost all actions.
Distinction: A Vollmacht is a unilateral declaration by the principal. In contrast, a Mandat (mandate) or Auftrag (commission, order) is usually a bilateral contract that can form the basis for granting the Vollmacht.
🧠 Mnemonics for Vollmacht
-
Article Mnemonic: Think of "might" or "power". In German, power is "die Macht". A Vollmacht gives someone power. Since "Macht" is feminine (die Macht), "die Vollmacht" is also feminine.
-
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine giving someone your "full might" or "full power" for a task. Voll (full) + Macht (might/power) = Vollmacht (full authorization/power of attorney).
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Ermächtigung: Authorization, empowerment. Very similar, emphasizes the permission aspect.
- Befugnis: Authority, competence, power. The right or permission to do something.
- Mandat: Mandate. Often used in political or legal contexts for representation.
- Prokura: Statutory commercial power of attorney. A specific, extensive business authorization in German commercial law.
- Bevollmächtigung: Authorization, act of granting power of attorney.
- Vertretungsbefugnis: Authority to represent.
⚠️ Similar but Different Words
- Auftrag: Order, task, commission. An instruction given (can be linked to a Vollmacht, but isn't the same).
- Genehmigung: Approval, permission, permit. Consent to something already done or planned (not representative authority).
😄 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Haben Sie eine Vollmacht, hier Kaffee zu kochen?" Sagt der Mitarbeiter: "Nein, aber ich habe die volle Absicht!"
English: The boss asks the new employee: "Do you have authorization (Vollmacht) to make coffee here?" The employee replies: "No, but I have the full intention (volle Absicht)!" (It's a pun on 'voll' meaning 'full').
✍️ Poem about Vollmacht
German:
Mit Siegel, Schrift und gutem Namen,
wird Macht verlieh'n in diesem Rahmen.
Die Vollmacht, klar und unbestritten,
lässt and're tun, worum wir bitten.
Ein starkes Band, ein Dokument,
das man Vertretung nennt.
English Translation:
With seal, script, and a good name,
Power is granted in this frame.
The power of attorney, clear and undisputed,
Lets others do what we have requested.
A strong bond, a document,
That is called representation.
🧩 Riddle
German:
Ich gebe dir die Macht, zu sprechen und zu handeln für mich,
obwohl du nicht ich bist, das ist nicht fürchterlich.
Auf Papier steh' ich geschrieben, oft mit Siegel fein,
im Recht und im Geschäft, muss ich gültig sein.
Was bin ich?
English Translation:
I give you the power to speak and act for me,
Although you are not me, that's not terrible, you see.
On paper I am written, often with a fine seal,
In law and in business, I must be valid and real.
What am I?
Solution: die Vollmacht (power of attorney)
🌐 Other Information
Word Composition
The word "Vollmacht" is a compound noun, composed of:
- voll: Adjective, meaning 'full', 'complete' here.
- Macht: Noun (die Macht), meaning 'power', 'authority' here.
Together, it signifies a full (or at least clearly defined) power or authority.
Related Terms
- Bevollmächtigter / Bevollmächtigte: The agent, attorney-in-fact (male/female) - the person receiving the Vollmacht.
- Vollmachtgeber / Vollmachtgeberin: The principal (male/female) - the person granting the Vollmacht.
- Generalvollmacht: General power of attorney.
- Spezialvollmacht / Einzelvollmacht: Special or limited power of attorney.
- Vorsorgevollmacht: Enduring power of attorney, healthcare proxy/power of attorney for healthcare decisions.
- Handlungsvollmacht: Commercial power of attorney (less extensive than Prokura).
- Prokura: A legally defined, extensive commercial power of attorney specific to German-speaking countries' commercial law.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Vollmacht?
The word "Vollmacht" is always feminine. The correct article is die: die Vollmacht. It means power of attorney or authorization to act on someone else's behalf.