Verfahrensordnung

Verfahrensordnung, literally “procedural order,” is a normative framework that prescribes how a procedure is conducted within an organization, most commonly in public administration and the judiciary. It defines procedural steps, permissible actions, time limits, and the sequence in which participants may present information. By detailing rights and duties, it complements substantive law and helps ensure decisions are reached legally, fairly, and efficiently.

Typical content includes the scope and definitions, initiation of procedures, notification of involved parties, opportunities to participate and present evidence, rules governing submissions and deadlines, conduct of hearings, the burden of proof, and the form and content of decisions. It also covers remedies, appeals, enforcement, cost rules, language, and publication of decisions. Verfahrensordnungen may apply to a specific agency, court, or company, and may exist as part of statutory law or as internal regulations adopted by an institution.

Adoption and amendment generally require a competent authority’s approval and publication; they may be subject to higher law and must align with mandatory provisions of substantive law. In Germany, for example, Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz provides the overarching framework for administrative procedures, while individual agencies publish their own Verfahrensordnungen within that framework. Similar instruments exist in other jurisdictions and organizations, adapted to local legal and institutional contexts.