Handelsregister: What is an “amtlicher” or certified company extract?
Since the German Commercial Register was converted to electronic management, the official terminology for register documents has changed. A standard extract is referred to as an “Ausdruck aus dem Handelsregister”, while an official version is called an “Amtlicher Ausdruck aus dem Handelsregister”.
However, the older terms are still widely used. You may therefore see expressions such as “Handelsregisterauszug” or “Auszug aus dem Handelsregister” in business correspondence, application requirements and document requests. In most cases, these terms simply refer to a Commercial Register extract.
The important question is whether you need a standard register extract or an official version. A standard extract is usually sufficient if you only need current company information. An official extract may be required when the document must be submitted to a bank, public authority, court or another organisation that requires formal proof of authenticity. Additional fees and processing may apply to official documents.
An “Amtlicher Ausdruck aus dem Handelsregister” is an official version of the Commercial Register extract. It can be provided as a paper document or, where the applicable procedure allows it, electronically with the required electronic authentication. You should therefore check whether the receiving organisation accepts an electronically authenticated official document or requires a paper original.
Which Commercial Register documents can be officially certified?
In addition to Commercial Register extracts, official or certified copies of other documents filed with the register may also be available. These can include shareholder lists, articles of association and other corporate documents. The available form depends on the particular document and how it is stored in the register.
If the document is intended for use outside Germany, additional authentication may be required. For countries where the Hague Apostille Convention applies in relation to Germany, this is usually an apostille. For other countries, a different authentication or legalisation procedure may be necessary. The exact requirements depend on the destination country and the authority where the document will be presented.
Where can you order an official or certified Commercial Register document?
If you do not want to obtain the documents directly from the register court yourself, you can order the required Commercial Register documents through our service using the link below. If you only need company information and no official authentication is required, a standard electronic extract is usually the simpler option and can often be provided shortly after the order is placed. Official, certified or apostilled documents require additional processing depending on the requested form.
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