A bipolar RF sealing instrument includes two instrument branches which are movable relative to one another at least to an open and a closed position, and an instrument handle with two handle units, each associated with a respective instrument branch and coupled for manually operating the instrument branches and for applying to the instrument branches a predetermined closing force at the closed position, a first of the two instrument branches having a terminal for an external RF generator and the second instrument branch adapted to be electrically coupled via an instrument-internal power contact with the first instrument branch. The power contact may be a spring contact for contact closure at a closure position. In addition or alternatively, an instrument-internal control switch is present and only activated when the predetermined closing force is reached, to enable the supply of electric current from an external RF generator to the instrument branch(es).