Latest news
To ensure that you are always up to date, you will receive occasional notifications about important court rulings as well as legal commentary and notes from our experts on this page. Please be aware that the original language of our news content is German. While we strive for accuracy, automated or manual translations may occasionally contain errors. If any part of a ruling or commentary is unclear, do not hesitate to reach out to us for direct advice.
Fake invoices for entry in the commercial register
Fraudsters Are Targeting Start-ups—Westphalian Chamber of Notaries. Time and again, newly established limited liability companies (GmbHs) receive fake invoices immediately after being entered in the commercial register. Many of these fake documents can only be distinguished from the official invoices issued by the registry courts upon close inspection, and they demand payment within an extremely short timeframe. Failure to pay allegedly results in late fees…
Careers in the Notarial Profession: New, Nationwide Standardized Continuing Education Opportunities Enhance Career Prospects
Nationwide standardized continuing education credentials—Notary Specialist, Notary Assistant, and Notary Consultant—already existed, offering notary clerks a wide range of opportunities to pursue continuing education and earn advanced professional qualifications. „With the new continuing education structure, these opportunities will become even more transparent and comparable nationwide in the future,“ explains Dr. Markus Sikora, President of the Federal Chamber of Notaries. The previously regionally varied continuing education programs will be replaced by a uniform system,…
Be Careful with Second-Row Properties — A Neighbor May Deny You Access to Your Own Home
Homeowners without direct access to the street often assume that their neighbor will allow them to cross their property. This can quickly become a problem in the event of a dispute or a sale to a third party if a right of way has not been recorded in the land registry. Even after decades of tacit agreement, there is no customary right to use the path. Those affected, as well as people who own a second home…
Roof-Mounted Solar System—What to Consider When Selling a Property
Many homeowners underestimate the legal requirements involved when selling a house with a solar power system. Notaries provide guidance and offer legally sound solutions. What buyers and sellers need to know. Millions of homes in Germany have solar panels on their roofs. But what happens to these systems when the home is sold? Do they automatically become part of the building? Is the…
Buying a house as a family or couple: when a GbR can make sense
When couples, siblings or parents and children buy a property together, the question is not only who owns which share. It is also important: Who pays how much? What happens in the event of separation, death or subsequent transfer to the next generation? A civil law partnership, or GbR for short, can provide a flexible structure in such cases - should...
Notarization or certification?
Notaries notarize and certify. But what is the difference? The terms are often confused or equated, but they are completely different activities: while notarization is required for significant legal transactions and includes notarial advice, signature certification basically only confirms the identity of the signatory. Notarization In the case of notarizations, deeds are...