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

• retirement pension
  • Regularly upon reaching the standard retirement age
  • Early on written application after reaching the relevant age limit
  • Postponed after exceeding the standard retirement age and corresponding application by the member
• Occupational disability pension
• Survivors' pension for widows, widowers, life partners and orphans

In addition, the pension fund can grant subsidies towards the costs of necessary, particularly costly medical rehabilitation measures on application.

Further information on the types of benefits is available from the pension fund's office and can also be found in the pension fund's statutes and on its website.

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

For self-employed members, proof of income for the calendar year before last must be submitted by March 31 of the calendar year.

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

The requirements for the granting of benefits are regulated in the statutes. Entitlement to benefits arises upon payment of a contribution.

There are no fees for registration.

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

Pursuant to Section 2 of the Law on the Hessian Lawyers' Pension Scheme (Hess. RAVG), persons who have been admitted to the bar by the Frankfurt am Main or Kassel Bar Associations are required to become members of the pension fund.

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

The pension fund usually answers inquiries and processes applications on the day they are received.

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

Members of the pension fund will be informed in writing about upcoming deadlines.

In principle, the following deadlines must be observed:

• Exemption from compulsory insurance in the statutory pension insurance scheme: 3 months after taking up employment or becoming a member of the pension fund
• Proof of income for self-employed persons: proof of the calendar year before last by March 31 of the current year
• Subsequent insurance: within one year after the end of the traineeship

Early retirement pension: Application only possible for the future.

The supervisory authority is the Hessian Ministry of Justice

Appeals can be lodged against pension fund decisions. A separate hearing is held during the objection procedure. If the appeal is unsuccessful, legal action can be taken.

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

Pension Fund for Lawyers in the State of Hesse
Bockenheimer Landstrasse 23
60325 Frankfurt am Main
Phone +49 69 / 71 37 67 - 0
Fax +49 69 / 71 37 67 - 30
www.vw-ra-hessen.de

Telephone and business hours:

Mondays - Thursdays
from 09:00 - 12:30 and from 13:00 - 15:00

Fridays
from 09:00 - 14:00

You can find your contact person here.

As a rule, applications can be submitted in writing and without a separate form (exception: issuing a SEPA direct debit mandate).

To simplify the procedure, the pension fund will also be happy to send you the necessary forms by post. Important forms can also be downloaded from the pension fund's website.