An eingetragener Verein, abbreviated e.V., is a legal status for a registeredvoluntary association in Germany. While any group may be called a Verein, registration as eingetragener Verein confers many legal benefits, because it confers the status of a juridical person rather than just a group of individuals. The legal status must be mentioned in the name as well. Like certain other corporate bodies, a eingetragener Verein can apply for the status of a charitable organization.
The Civil Code of Germany regulates registered non-profit, and for-profit associations regarded as juridical persons in sections 2179 and any other associations by contract such as GmbH and Aktiengesellschaft, which are also endowed with juridical personhood. These are regulated in separate statutes as special economic associations but bear the same basic features. The Gesetz zur Regelung des öffentlichen Vereinsrechts and the associated regulations Verordnung zur Durchführung des Gesetzes zur Regelung des öffentlichen Vereinsrechts contain specific provision on the rights and duties of Vereine in general.
Membership
All natural and juridical persons in Germany, including entities such as municipalities, counties and other entities under public law, can form associations and be member of an association. This means that associations are not limited to private clubs formed by natural persons but have a much broader scope. The statutory minimum number of members for forming a registered association is seven. The minimum number of members before a registered association needs to be dissolved is five.
Registration
The registration of Vereine is regulated in the Vereinsregisterverordning VRV. It requires registration of an e. V. with the association registry either kept at the district court of its seat or, if directed by state law, as a centralized register for the Land its seat is located in.
Differences to Other Jurisdictions
In other German-speaking countries such a distinction does not exist. But there may be legal requirements which oblige an association to register itself; for example, in Switzerland there is no association registry, but an association must be listed in the commercial register if its yearly turnover is high enough to legally require an audit. In Austria, all associations are registered in a special register, and having an e.V. in the name is not allowed.
