The German Civil Code has rules for a person who takes care of someone else’s affairs without being asked. Lawyers call this Geschäftsführung ohne Auftrag, management without a mandate. Under Section 677, such a person must act in the other person’s interest and according to that person’s real or presumed will. Under Section 678, if taking over the matter goes against that will and the helper should have seen this, the helper must pay for the resulting damage, even without any other fault.