FAQ: German Commercial Register Extracts

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How can I download an extract from the German Commercial Register?

To download a German Commercial Register extract, shareholder list or articles of association, as well as a scanned copy of a certified and apostilled extract, follow the link sent to you by email or messenger. After downloading the documents, you can print or forward them.

You can order an extract using this link

What information does a current Commercial Register extract (Aktueller Handelsregisterauszug) contain?

An extract from the German Commercial Register (Handelsregister) contains the following information about a company or branch registered in Germany:

• Company name
• Legal form (GmbH, UG, KG, AG, etc.)
• Registered business activities
• Amount of registered capital
• Persons authorised to represent the company, such as managing directors, members of the management board and authorised signatories (Vertretungsberechtigte Personen — Geschäftsführer, Vorstand, Prokuristen)
• Information about the latest entry in the register

To obtain an extract, follow this link

How can I find out who owns a German company and how the shares are distributed between the owners?

To obtain information about the shareholders of a commercial company in Germany and their shares, you need to request a shareholder list. You can submit a request using this link.

Which company documents can be obtained from the Commercial Register?

Current copies of the following documents can be obtained from the German Commercial Register:

• Company agreement / articles of association (Gesellschaftsvertrag)
• Shareholder list (Gesellschafterliste)
• German Commercial Register extract
• Other notarial documents

You can order certified and apostilled company documents here

For which countries can a German Commercial Register extract be apostilled?

Apostilled documents are recognised by countries that are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention.

What types of German Commercial Register (Handelsregister) extracts are available?

The following types of company extracts can be obtained from the Commercial Register:

Current Extract (Aktueller Handelsregisterauszug)

This document shows only the current status of the register, without deleted or explanatory entries. In most cases, this is the type of company register extract that is requested.

Chronological Extract (Chronologischer Handelsregisterauszug)

This extract contains all register entries, including deleted entries, in chronological order since the transition to the electronic company register in 2005. The information is provided in table form. This type of extract is useful when you need to follow changes that have taken place within a company.

Historical Extract (Historischer Handelsregisterauszug)

This is a scanned register extract from the period before the electronic register was introduced in 2005. This type of extract is available only for companies registered before 2005.

You can request all types of company extracts from the register using this link

For which countries can a German Commercial Register extract be apostilled?

Apostilled documents are recognised by countries that are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention.

Which companies can you obtain an extract for from the German Commercial Register?

The German Commercial Register contains information about commercial companies of the following types:

• GmbH — Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (Limited Liability Company);
• KG — Kommanditgesellschaft (Limited Partnership);
• AG — Aktiengesellschaft (Stock Corporation);
• OHG — Offene Handelsgesellschaft (General Partnership);
• e.K. — eingetragener Kaufmann (Registered Sole Trader);
• UG — Unternehmergesellschaft / UG (haftungsbeschränkt), Limited Liability Company*, LLC; all types of company extracts from the register can be requested using this link

*partly approximate similarity between legal forms

The German Commercial Register (Handelsregister) can also provide extracts and company documents for representative offices and branches of foreign companies registered in Germany. In their home countries, these companies may be registered as:

• Ltd — Limited
• SARL (Société à responsabilité limitée)
• BV (Besloten vennootschap)
• S.L. (Sociedad de responsabilidad limitada)
• SNC (Société en nom collectif)
• CV (Commanditaire vennootschap)
• S.C. (Sociedad comanditaria)
• SA (Société anonyme)
• NV (Naamloze vennootschap)
• S.A. (Sociedad Anónima)
• SNC (Société en nom collectif)
• VOF (Vennootschap onder firma)
• SC (Sociedad colectiva)
• EIRL (Entreprise individuelle à responsabilité limitée)
• Eenmanszaak
• Empresario individual
• SASU (Société par actions simplifiée unipersonnelle)
• SLU (Sociedad limitada unipersonal)
• LLC (Limited Liability Company)
• LP (Limited Partnership)
• Corp. (Corporation)
• Inc.(Incorporated)
• General Partnership
• Sole Proprietorship
• 有限公司 (You Xian Gong Si)
• 有限合伙公司 (You Xian He Huo Gong Si)
• 股份有限公司 (Gu Fen You Xian Gong Si)
• 普通合伙 (Pu Tong He Huo)

You can order a company extract with international document delivery here

Where can you obtain an apostille for documents in Germany?

Apostilles for documents are issued by the regional courts in Germany. After the apostille is issued, the document has legal effect outside Germany in countries that have joined the 1961 Hague Convention.

It should also be noted that in many countries, in addition to the document itself, a translation into the national language is required. This translation must also be certified and apostilled if the translation is made in Germany.

You can order apostilled documents from the German Commercial Register using this link