Hamburg District Court, register matters

Apply for a change to the commercial register

Prerequisites

Please register the following changes with the commercial register:

• Appointment of a new managing director
• Exit or entry of shareholders
• Amendment or revision of the statutes
• Establishment, closure or relocation of a branch office
• Granting or revocation of power of attorney
• Change of company name or business purpose

Documents required

Please note

If you fail to register legally required information with the commercial register, or register it incorrectly, you will first receive a warning. If necessary, you will be compelled to register by imposing a penalty payment.

The following data is entered in the commercial register and is then publicly accessible:

• Company name
• Domestic address of the company headquarters and, if applicable, of branch offices
• Business purpose
• Amount of share capital/equity capital (for corporations)
• Representation rules (management and power of attorney)
• Names and dates of birth of the managing directors
• Names and dates of birth of the authorized signatories
• Legal form, and, if applicable, limitation of liability
• Day of first registration
• Number of entries
• Other legal relationships, such as past name changes and insolvency proceedings

If you discontinue your business or activity, you must register its deletion from the commercial register.

The local court does not provide legal advice. Please contact a law firm or a notary's office.

The Public Legal Information Office (ÖRA) offers affordable legal advice for people with low incomes.

Deadlines

Please notify the relevant authority immediately of any changes to your commercial register entry.

Procedure

• You contact a notary's office of your choice and have them check the formalities.
• The notary's office prepares and certifies the application for the change to your commercial register entry.
• Once all the required documents are available, the notary's office will electronically submit the application to the responsible authority.
• The responsible authority enters the change on the register sheet.
• You will receive a notification.
• You will receive an invoice.
• They will cover the costs.
• The responsible authority will publish your updated entry or the change to your entry.

Processing time

The responsible authority will decide on the requested change to your entry without delay. If all required documents are submitted, your change will usually be entered into the commercial register within a few working days.

Fees

The costs for a change in the commercial register depend on the type of change and the legal form of your company. Court fees and notary fees will apply. Further information can be found on the linked pages and in the documents.

Legal remedies

Complaint

Legal basis

Section 8a of the German Commercial Code (HGB)


www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hgb/__8a.html




Section 10 of the German Commercial Code (HGB)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hgb/__10.html




Section 12 of the German Commercial Code (HGB)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hgb/__12.html




Sections 23 et seq. of the Commercial Register Ordinance (HRV)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hdlregvfg/BJNR705150937.html#BJNR705150937BJNG000301125




Section 40a of the Notarization Act (BeurkG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/beurkg/__40a.html