A magnetic resonance apparatus has a magnet unit at least partially surrounding an examination region, a local coil, and a local coil positioning device. The local coil positioning device includes a transmission device arranged at the local coil to transmit signals and at least one signal reception device arranged at a fixed position relative to the examination region to detect the signals sent by the signal transmission device. A corresponding local coil positioning device comprising a signal transmission device to transmit signals and at least one signal reception device to detect signals sent by the signal transmission device. A local coil for an examination in a magnetic resonance apparatus has a signal transmission device, advantageously an ultrasound signal transmission device. The position of the local coil can be automatically determined by the signal transmission device and the at least one signal reception device without an intervention by a person overseeing the magnetic resonance apparatus being necessary. A positioning of the local coil can thus be conducted particularly quickly and without the risk of an incorrect positioning. The examination duration is reduced, the comfort of the patient is increased and a better utilization of the magnetic resonance apparatus is enabled.