Notaries in Germany

A German notary - often called a 'Civil Law Notary' - is a highly qualified legal professional, who holds public office.

A German Civil Law Notary is not the same as a “notary public” in the United States or in other Common-Law jurisdictions.

German notaries:

• Draft and notarize or certify authentic instruments (public deeds), such as contracts (e.g. real estate purchases, company formations, prenuptial agreements), wills, and powers of attorneys

• Ensure that transactions and public deeds are legally valid and binding

• Provide independent, impartial advice to all parties involved

• File necessary documents with German authorities such as courts and state offices

• Are fully trained jurists (4 to 5 years of law school, 2 years of legal clerkship), who usually graduated among the top tier of their class

• Are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice of the respective federal state.

This means that for many important legal transactions in Germany, visiting a notary is a mandatory step – and we are here to make that process clear and straightforward for you.

Free Choice of Notary

In Germany, the principle of free choice of notary applies. This means that if you come to my office in Landstuhl, I can handle your matter – regardless of where you live or where the property, company, or court involved is located.

• It does not matter whether you live in another part of Germany or abroad.

• It does not matter where the property is located – even if it is in another city or federal state (in case of a transfer it must be in Germany though).

• It does not matter which land registry, commercial register, or court (probate, guardianship, family) has jurisdiction.

Example:
I can notarize a purchase agreement for a property in Kaiserslautern even if the buyer lives in Zweibrücken and the seller lives in Homburg (Saarland).

You are also free to choose your notary even if you have had documents notarized elsewhere in the past.

Example:
If you previously signed a will with a notary in Bavaria but now wish to revoke, amend, or create a new will, you can have the new will notarized with me in Landstuhl.

Official District

My official district covers parts of the Kaiserslautern County and the Südwestpfalz County – including the City of Landstuhl (Sickingenstadt), the City of Ramstein-Miesenbach, the Ramstein-Miesenbach municipality, as well as parts of the municipalities of Landstuhl, Bruchmühlbach-Miesau, Weilerbach, and Thaleischweiler-Wallhalben.

I am therefore your notary in:
Bann · Bruchmühlbach-Miesau (districts of Bruchmühlbach and Vogelbach) · Gerhardsbrunn · Hauptstuhl · Hütschenhausen (with Hütschenhausen, Katzenbach, and Spesbach) · Kindsbach · Kottweiler-Schwanden · Landstuhl · Linden · Mackenbach · Mittelbrunn · Niedermohr (with Kirchmohr, Niedermohr, Reuschbach, and Schrollbach) · Oberarnbach · Obernheim-Kirchenarnbach (with Kirchenarnbach, Neumühle, and Obernheim) · Queidersbach · Ramstein-Miesenbach · Reichenbach-Steegen (with Albersbach, Fockenberg-Limbach, Reichenbach, and Steegen) · Steinwenden (with Obermohr, Steinwenden, and Weltersbach)

Home Visits & Out-of-Office Appointments

If, for health reasons, you are unable to visit my notary office in Landstuhl, I am happy to come to you within my official district – whether at your home, in a hospital, hospice, or nursing facility.

Even if you are temporarily outside my district (for example, in a hospital or short-term care facility) but your permanent residence is within my district, an out-of-office appointment can still be arranged.

Good to know:
This territorial restriction only applies to notarizations and certifications outside my office. In Germany, the principle of free choice of notary applies. This means that if you visit me at my office in Landstuhl, I can always handle your matter – regardless of where you live or where the property or transaction is located (see above).