Notfallplanung für Unternehmerfamilien

In the practical guide „Emergency Planning for Family Businesses – Securing the Future of the Business with Care and Foresight“, published by the WIFU Foundation (2021), Peter Lamers and Mark Pawlytta highlight the serious consequences that the sudden absence of an entrepreneur can have for both the family and the business, and explain why systematic planning is a central component of a responsible family strategy. Drawing on typical emergency scenarios, such as illness, accident, cognitive impairment or death, the guide illustrates that a lack of arrangements can quickly lead to an inability to act, legal deadlocks and existential risks.

This guide provides a structured overview of the legal, organisational and strategic aspects of contingency planning in family businesses. It systematically addresses key topics such as powers of attorney, management and representation arrangements, succession in the event of death, and the implications under company and inheritance law. Particular emphasis is placed on the often underestimated importance of clear powers of attorney, post-mortem arrangements and addressing family and business roles at an early stage in the event of a crisis. The authors demonstrate how legal planning, information management and strategic guidelines must be interlinked to ensure the continuity of the business.

The practical guide is supplemented by a comprehensive Form booklet accompanying the practical guide „Emergency Planning for Family Businesses’, which serves as a practical tool for business families. Checklists, templates and guidance on structuring help users to put together a personalised contingency plan that takes into account both private and business-related aspects. At the same time, the guide emphasises that contingency planning is not a one-off exercise, but requires regular updating and family communication. The publication thus makes a practical, legally sound and strategically grounded contribution to the professionalisation of entrepreneurial families in dealing with existential crisis situations.