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Grundbuchauszug (land register extract) at the Amtsgericht (local court)

The hurdle is not the fee but access

Grundbuchamt§ 12 GBONot public

The Grundbuchamt (land registry) is not a separate authority: under § 1 GBO, the land registers are kept by the local courts (Amtsgericht), specifically for the plots of land located within their district. If you enter “Grundbuchamt” into a search engine, you therefore end up at the Amtsgericht — it is the same body under a functional name.

The real hurdle is not the fee but access. The Grundbuch (land register) is not a public register like the Handelsregister (commercial register). § 12 Abs. 1 GBO provides: “Inspection of the land register is permitted to anyone who demonstrates a legitimate interest.” Anyone who merely wants to know who owns a house does not, as a rule, have this interest — curiosity is not enough, and a mere wish to purchase is generally not enough either.

A legitimate interest is held by anyone who is themselves the owner or heir, who is entered in the Grundbuch, who pursues a specific right to the plot of land — for example, a creditor with an enforceable title — or who demonstrates a serious, provable interest in acquiring it with the owner's consent. Notaries, courts and authorities have it by virtue of their office.

Last updated28 August 2026
Legal basis§ 12 GBO · GNotKG KV 17000
Verification§ 1 and § 12 GBO · GNotKG KV 17000 and 17001
Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta
Independent information website: we are not the Amtsgericht, not an authority and not a paid advice service – we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in plain language; binding information always comes from the competent body. No legal advice and not an official authority. We are neither lawyers nor tax consultants: we document official procedures and check the information against the official source – this is information, not legal or tax advice.
Uncertified€10.00GNotKG KV 17000
Certified€20.00GNotKG KV 17001
RequirementLegitimate interest§ 12 Abs. 1 GBO — otherwise no inspection
Required documents

What you need

Identity document and personal information

The Grundbuchamt must be able to establish who is requesting inspection. Anonymous requests are not processed — this follows directly from the fact that the interest is tied to the person.

Description of the plot of land

The most reliable way is with the land register sheet number and the Gemarkung (cadastral district); otherwise the exact address with the plot number is usually sufficient. The less precise the description, the greater the effort for the office and the longer the processing takes.

Evidence of the legitimate interest

This is the decisive part. As owner, the identity document is sufficient; as heir, the Erbschein (certificate of inheritance) or the record of the opening is sufficient; as creditor, the enforceable title is sufficient; as a prospective purchaser, a power of attorney or the owner's consent is generally required. Without evidence, the application is refused.

Means of payment

Ten euros for the uncertified printout, twenty for the certified printout. No document flat fee is added — the cost schedule expressly excludes it alongside these fees.

Step by step

How to proceed

  1. 1

    Check whether you have a legitimate interest

    Owners, registered beneficiaries, heirs and creditors with an enforceable title have it. Prospective purchasers generally only with the owner's consent. Mere curiosity or general market interest is not enough — the application is then refused, and the refusal is lawful.

  2. 2

    Find the competent Amtsgericht

    The competent court is the Amtsgericht in whose district the plot of land is located — not your place of residence. Jurisdiction follows from § 1 GBO and relates to the plot of land; if there are several plots in different districts, several applications are necessary.

  3. 3

    Choose the right type of extract

    For your own information, the uncertified printout for €10 is sufficient. You only need the certified version for €20 if another body requires it — a bank, a court, or an authority. Anyone who orders the certified version as a precaution pays double for no benefit.

  4. 4

    File the application and provide evidence of the interest

    In writing, electronically, or in person at the Grundbuchamt, with a description of the plot of land and evidence of the legitimate interest. Some federal states have online procedures; electronic retrieval through the federal states' portals requires authorisation, which private individuals generally do not receive.

  5. 5

    In the event of refusal: Erinnerung

    Land register matters are decided by the Rechtspfleger (senior judicial officer) under § 3 RPflG. This application is generally decided not by a judge, but by the Rechtspfleger: § 3 RPflG assigns them, among other things, estate, register, land register and insolvency matters. That is more than a question of jurisdiction, because the legal remedy follows from it: if no other appellate remedy is available against the decision, the Erinnerung (objection to a decision of the Rechtspfleger) is available under § 11 Abs. 2 RPflG, to be lodged within two weeks. The Rechtspfleger can grant it themselves; if they do not, they refer it to the judge. The Erinnerung proceedings are free of court fees.

Fee information

Costs and payment

Fees for printoutsGNotKG KV 17000 and 17001
Uncertified printout (KV 17000)€10.00
Certified printout (KV 17001)€20.00
Document flat feeNot charged
Inspection on siteFree of charge without a printout
Retrieval by notaries and authoritiesOwn access

The cost schedule makes clear that no document flat fee is charged in addition to fees 17000 and 17001. The certified printout is only worthwhile if another body requires it; for your own information, the uncertified version is sufficient.

Good to know

Important notes

The Grundbuchamt is the Amtsgericht. § 1 GBO provides that the land registers are kept by the local courts (Amtsgericht) — “Grundbuchamt” is the functional name, not a separate authority.

The Grundbuch is not public. Unlike the Handelsregister, inspection under § 12 Abs. 1 GBO requires a demonstrated legitimate interest. Anyone who only wants to know who owns a plot of land receives no information.

A mere wish to purchase is generally not sufficient on its own. The interest of a prospective purchaser is generally recognised only once the owner consents or concrete negotiations are documented.

Do not order the certified version as a precaution. For your own information, the uncertified printout for €10 is sufficient; the certified version costs double and is only needed if another body insists on it.

The competent court is the Amtsgericht at the location of the plot of land, not at your place of residence. For plots of land in several districts, several applications are required.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes

Applying for an extract for someone else's plot of land out of curiosity. Without a demonstrated legitimate interest under § 12 GBO, the application is refused.

Applying at the Amtsgericht of your own place of residence. The competent court is the one in whose district the plot of land is located.

Ordering the certified printout as a precaution. It costs double and is only needed if another body requires it.

Confusing the Grundbuch with the Liegenschaftskataster (real estate cadastre). The Grundbuch shows ownership and encumbrances, while the cadastre shows location and boundaries — the Katasteramt (cadastral office) is responsible for cadastral maps.

Giving up after a refusal by the Rechtspfleger. The Erinnerung under § 11 Abs. 2 RPflG does not incur court fees; often only the evidence of the legitimate interest is missing.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

What does a Grundbuchauszug cost?

The uncertified printout costs €10.00 under KV 17000 GNotKG, and the certified version costs €20.00 under KV 17001. No document flat fee is charged in addition; the cost schedule expressly excludes it. For your own information, the uncertified printout is generally sufficient.

Can anyone inspect the Grundbuch?

No. Under § 12 Abs. 1 GBO, inspection is only permitted to someone who demonstrates a legitimate interest. Unlike the Handelsregister, the Grundbuch is therefore not a public register. Curiosity, general market interest or the wish to find out the owner of a neighbouring house are not sufficient.

What counts as a legitimate interest?

It is recognised for owners, beneficiaries entered in the Grundbuch, heirs, creditors with an enforceable title, and persons pursuing a specific right to the plot of land. Prospective purchasers generally only have it once the owner has consented or where concrete negotiations can be documented. Notaries, courts and authorities have access by virtue of their office.

Is the Grundbuchamt a separate authority?

No. Under § 1 GBO, the land registers are kept by the local courts (Amtsgericht); “Grundbuchamt” denotes this function of the Amtsgericht, not an independent institution. The competent court is the Amtsgericht in whose district the plot of land is located.

Can I retrieve the extract online?

Electronic retrieval through the federal states' land register portals requires authorisation, which is essentially granted to notaries, authorities, courts and certain professional users. Private individuals generally do not receive it and file the application in writing or in person at the competent Amtsgericht.

My application was refused — what can I do?

Land register matters are decided by the Rechtspfleger under § 3 RPflG. If no other appellate remedy is available, the Erinnerung is available against the rejection under § 11 Abs. 2 RPflG: within two weeks and free of court fees. Often only a piece of evidence of the legitimate interest is missing, which you can submit afterwards.

Related official procedures

Apply for an Erbschein (certificate of inheritance)
Twice 1.0 under Table B — not once
From €150 at €10,000
Compulsory enforcement
Gerichtsvollzieher (court bailiff) or enforcement court
Under the GvKostG
Handelsregister
Fees increased by 50% since 1 June 2025
GmbH €225

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