Vermögensmasse

Vermögensmasse is a legal term used in German-speaking jurisdictions to denote the total assets of a person or entity that are available to satisfy claims or to be distributed in a legal proceeding. The exact scope of Vermögensmasse varies by context, but it generally refers to the pool of assets owned at a given time, including real estate, bank balances, movables, claims, and other rights.

In insolvency law the term is closely associated with the Insolvenzmasse (insolvency estate). Here it describes the assets of the debtor that can be realized and used to pay creditors. The Insolvenzmasse is collected and managed by a court-appointed insolvency administrator, who inventories, values, and liquidates assets as needed. After deducting costs and any preferential claims, remaining proceeds are distributed to creditors according to statutory priorities; some assets or portions may be exempt from distribution.

In other areas of civil and family law, Vermögensmasse can refer to the broader property base of a person or spouse for purposes such as asset division, marital property regimes, or the calculation of net worth in various proceedings. Depending on the regime, certain assets (for example, inherited or gifted property, or assets acquired with separate funds) may be treated differently or excluded from the calculation of the Vermögensmasse.

Overall, Vermögensmasse describes the encumbered or unencumbered assets belonging to a person or entity that can be used to satisfy obligations, settle debts, or be divided in legal processes. Its precise composition is determined by the applicable statute and the specifics of the case.