Altona District Office

Care centers General information

Here you will find information about the care facilities.

Detailed description

The guardianship court assistance service supports the guardianship court in examining whether legal guardianship is necessary for an adult.



To this end, staff speak with the person concerned and gain an overview of their personal and social situation. They inquire about their living situation, health limitations, family environment, and any existing support services. They then assess whether the necessary assistance can be provided through priority support options, such as family members, social services, or an advance healthcare directive.



Based on this information, the guardianship court assistance service prepares a report for the court. This report outlines whether the prerequisites for legal guardianship are met, whether priority support services are available, in which areas of life support is needed (e.g., healthcare, financial matters, or dealings with authorities), and who might be suitable as a guardian.



The guardianship court assistance service does not make decisions itself. It gathers information, conducts interviews with those involved, and supports the court in its decision-making process.

 

Information

Prerequisites

The guardianship court assistance service only acts upon request of the guardianship court.


A prerequisite is that guardianship proceedings are already pending before the court. On behalf of the court, the guardianship court assistance service can investigate the facts of the case, conduct interviews with those involved, and propose suitable guardians or review existing guardianships. Direct commissioning by citizens or other bodies is not possible.

Documents required

If you wish to initiate guardianship proceedings for yourself or another person at the relevant local court, the guardianship procedure could be expedited if you also submit the application form (see links).

Please note

No.

Deadlines

No

Procedure

  • Assessment of the personal, health and social situation of the person concerned
  • Check whether other aid or support services are sufficient.
  • Preparation of a statement for the guardianship court
  • If necessary, a suggestion for a suitable supervisor.
  • Decision of the guardianship court regarding the establishment of a guardianship, the areas of responsibility and the appointment of the guardian.

Processing time

Processing times vary. The duration of processing depends heavily on the nature of the request and the complexity of the affected person's situation.

Fees

The services of the guardianship court assistance are free of charge for you.


Costs may be incurred for the court-ordered guardianship proceedings and for the guardianship itself. These costs depend on the assets of the person concerned.

Legal remedies

No legal remedy is provided for guardianship court assistance.

Legal basis

Sections 1814-1816, 1820, 1821 of the German Civil Code (BGB): Prerequisites, scope of guardianship, suitability and selection of the guardian, power of attorney and supervisory guardianship, duties of the guardian and wishes of the ward




Sections 271, 279 FamFG: Guardianship matters and hearing of other parties involved and the guardianship authorities




Sections 2, 4, 7, 11, 12 BtOG: Regulations on the local jurisdiction of the guardianship authority, data protection, authentication, preliminary investigation and guardian proposal

Forms and downloads

Links on hamburg.de

Address and contact information

Altona District Office

Department for Assistance under the Guardianship Act
Guardianship Court Assistance

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Keywords: Care center Advice on legal support during legal custody proceedings Supervision section

Last updated: 04.10.2026