Versorgungswerk der Rechtsanwälte im Lande Hessen

The Versorgungswerk der Rechtsanwälte im Land Hessen is the professional pension scheme for lawyers in Hesse.

The pension fund grants its members and their surviving dependants the following benefits:

• Old-age pension
  • Regular upon reaching the standard retirement age
  • Preferred upon written request after reaching the relevant age limit
  • Deferred after exceeding the standard retirement age and corresponding application by the member
• Disability pension
• Survivor's pension for widows, widowers, partners and orphans

In addition, the pension fund may, upon application, grant subsidies towards the costs of necessary, particularly complex medical rehabilitation measures.

Further information on the types of benefits can be obtained from the office of the pension fund and can also be found in the articles of association and on the website of the pension fund.

The pension fund informs its members in writing and also by telephone about which documents have to be submitted depending on the circumstances.

For self-employed members, proof of income from the penultimate calendar year must be submitted by 31.03. of a calendar year.

The essential prerequisite for establishing membership is admission to the bar by a Hessian bar association.

The conditions for granting benefits are laid down in the articles of association. Entitlement to benefits arises with the payment of a contribution.

There are no fees for registration.

Members pay contributions on the basis of their income from legal activities on the basis of which benefits are granted.

According to § 2 of the Act on the Hessian Lawyers' Pension (Hess. RAVG) persons who have been admitted to the bar by the bar associations of Frankfurt am Main or Kassel.

The newly admitted lawyer is obliged to inform the pension fund of this when handing over his certificate of admission. The pension fund will then send all the necessary documents.

The pension fund answers inquiries and usually processes applications on the day of receipt.

If third parties such as health insurance companies or medical experts are involved, the processing time is extended. The pension fund has no influence on this.

The members of the pension scheme shall be informed in writing of upcoming deadlines.

In principle, the following deadlines must be taken into account:

• Exemption from compulsory insurance in the statutory pension insurance: 3 months after commencement of activity or commencement of membership in the pension scheme
• Proof of income for self-employed persons: proof of the penultimate calendar year until 31.03. of the current year
• Post-insurance: within one year after the end of the legal clerkship

Early retirement pension: Application only possible for the future.

Supervisory authority is the Hessian Ministry of Justice

An objection may be lodged against decisions of the pension scheme. In opposition proceedings, a separate hearing shall be held. If the objection is unsuccessful, an action may be brought.

It is advisable to contact the pension fund before filing an objection in order to clarify the facts.

Pension fund for lawyers in the state of Hesse
Bockenheimer Landstrasse 23
60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Phone +49 69 / 71 37 67 – 0
Fax: +49 69 / 71 37 67 – 30
www.vw-ra-hessen.de

Telephone and business hours:

Monday - Thursday
from 09:00 - 12:30 o'clock and from 13:00 - 15:00 o'clock

on Fridays
from 09:00 a.m. - 02:00 p.m.

You can find your contact person here.

An application is usually possible in writing and without a separate form (exception: issuance of a SEPA direct debit mandate).

To simplify the procedure, the pension fund is also happy to send the required forms by post. In addition, important forms can be downloaded from the pension fund's website.