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Having a power of attorney certified or notarially recorded

Notary · Certification from €20

Often without an appointmentImmediately

With powers of attorney, two things are constantly confused, and the difference decides whether the document is later accepted. In the case of certification, the notary only confirms that the signature comes from you – they do not examine the content. In the case of notarial recording, they additionally examine and document the content, the advice given and the capacity to contract.

Certification is quick and inexpensive: a 0.2 fee under KV 25100, and for a certification without a draft, the maximum fee is €70. Many notaries’ offices deal with it at short notice, sometimes without a long wait. For Handelsregister (commercial register) filings and most Grundbuch (land register) filings, this is exactly the right form.

It is not sufficient everywhere, however. If the authorised representative is to be able to sell or encumber plots of land, the notarial recording is the safe route. And for a lasting power of attorney (Vorsorgevollmacht), it is almost always the better choice, because there the documented capacity to contract is decisive if someone later disputes the power of attorney.

Notary fees are fixed by law and the same throughout Germany: under § 17 BNotO, the notary is required to charge the prescribed fees; discounts are not permitted. Comparing prices between notaries is therefore pointless.

Last updated27 August 2026
Legal basis§ 167 BGB · § 172 · § 34 GNotKG · § 17 BNotO
VerificationChecked against gesetze-im-internet.de and notar.de
Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta
Independent information site: We are not the notary’s office, not an authority and not a paid advisory service — we do not submit applications for you. All information comes from official sources and is explained simply here; the competent body is always authoritative. Not legal advice. Whether a certification is sufficient or a notarial recording is necessary depends on the intended purpose. All information provided without guarantee. 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.
Certification0.2 feeKV 25100
Maximum fee€70Without a draft
Notarial recording1.0 feeMin. €60
Plots of landNotarial recordingCertification is not enough
Required documents

What you need

Valid ID document

The core of the certification: the notary confirms that the signature comes from the person identified. Without a valid identity document, a certification is not possible – not even where the notary knows the person personally.

The finished text of the power of attorney

For the certification, you bring the text with you; the notary does not examine its content. If the notary is asked to draft the text, that is a separate, higher-rated service – the maximum fee of €70 then does not apply.

Details of the authorised representative

Name, date of birth, address. Imprecise descriptions lead to banks and authorities rejecting the power of attorney – and this is only noticed when it is needed.

Clarity about the intended purpose

What exactly is the power of attorney to be used for? This determines whether a certification is sufficient. If in doubt, ask beforehand at the body that is to accept the power of attorney – the bank, the Grundbuchamt or the court of registration.

If real property is involved: land register data

If the power of attorney is to cover transactions involving land, the Gemarkung (cadastral district), Flur (cadastral section) and Flurstück (land parcel) need to be included – and the form must be correct. A power of attorney in a form that is too weak will block the entire transaction later.

Step by step

How to proceed

  1. 1

    First clarify: certification or notarial recording?

    The certification confirms only the genuineness of the signature; the notarial recording also covers the content and the capacity to contract. For Handelsregister filings and many Grundbuch declarations, the certification is sufficient. For lasting powers of attorney and for powers of attorney to sell or encumber plots of land, the notarial recording is the safe route.

  2. 2

    Ask the receiving body

    The step that saves most double trips: ask beforehand at the bank, the Grundbuchamt or the court of registration which form is required. A power of attorney drawn up in the wrong form cannot be cured – it has to be made again and paid for again.

  3. 3

    Prepare the text

    For the certification, you bring the finished text with you. Make sure the participants are described unambiguously and the scope is clear. If the notary is to draft the text, say so in advance – that is a separate service with its own fee.

  4. 4

    Sign in person

    You sign before the notary or acknowledge a signature already made as your own. Representation is not possible here: the point of the certification is precisely the personal confirmation.

  5. 5

    Plan your execution copies and simple copies

    Think about how many copies you need. Banks and authorities often require an execution copy and do not return it. Taking several execution copies with you straight away is considerably easier than requesting them individually later.

  6. 6

    Think about revocation

    Under § 172 BGB of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, BGB), a power of attorney document that has been produced can continue to have effect externally until it is returned or declared invalid. Anyone who revokes it must therefore collect the documents – revocation alone is not sufficient against third parties acting in good faith.

Fee information

Costs and payment

Certification and notarial recording comparedThe price difference is large — the legal difference is larger
Certification of a signature0.2 fee (KV 25100)
Maximum fee without a draft€70
Often in practice€20 to €25
Notarial recording1.0 fee, min. €60
Draft by the notarySeparately assessed
Wrong formCannot be cured

The certification of a signature is the cheapest notarial service of all: a 0.2 fee under KV 25100, and for a certification without a draft the maximum fee is €70 – regardless of how high the value of the transaction is. In practice, the amounts are often between €20 and €25. If, by contrast, the notary drafts the text themselves, that is a separate service to which this cap does not apply. The more important difference, however, is not the price but the legal effect. The certification says only this: this signature comes from this person. It says nothing about the content, and nothing about the capacity to contract either. The notarial recording under KV 21200 (1.0 fee, at least €60), by contrast, covers examination of the content, advice on its implications and the finding of the capacity to contract. For Handelsregister filings and many Grundbuch declarations, the certification is sufficient. For lasting powers of attorney and for powers of attorney with which plots of land are to be sold or encumbered, the notarial recording is the right choice. And one point that saves money: a power of attorney drawn up in the wrong form cannot be remedied afterwards – it has to be drawn up again and paid for again. Ask beforehand, therefore, at the body that is to accept it.

Good to know

Important notes

The certification examines only the signature. Not the content, not the capacity to contract. Anyone who believes the notary has checked the text is mistaken – this is the most common misunderstanding about this service.

The maximum fee of €70 only applies without a draft. If the notary prepares the text, that is a separate service with its own assessment.

For transactions involving land, the certification is usually not enough. If the authorised representative is to be able to sell or encumber, the notarial recording is the safe route.

For the lasting power of attorney, the notarial recording is worthwhile. There, the documented capacity to contract is decisive if relatives dispute the power of attorney.

Ask the receiving body beforehand. The bank, the Grundbuchamt or the court of registration will tell you which form they require. This saves the double trip.

The wrong form cannot be cured. A power of attorney that has been inadequately drawn up has to be made again – with a new fee and a new appointment.

Take enough execution copies with you. Banks and authorities often keep them. Requesting them individually afterwards is more cumbersome.

Collect the documents when revoking. Under § 172 BGB, a power of attorney document that has been produced continues to have effect against persons acting in good faith until it is returned or declared invalid.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes

Assuming the notary has checked the content. In the case of the certification, they expressly do not. Anyone who brings an incorrect text gets a certified signature under an incorrect text.

Having a document certified where a notarial recording would be needed. Above all with land and lasting powers of attorney. The mistake only comes to light when the power of attorney is needed – that is, at the worst possible moment.

Not asking the receiving body beforehand. Banks, the Grundbuchamt and the court of registration have different requirements. A phone call can replace a second appointment.

Describing the authorised representative imprecisely. A missing date of birth or an outdated address is enough for a rejection.

Taking only one execution copy. If it is retained, you are left without one and have to request another.

Revoking without demanding the document back. Against third parties acting in good faith, the power of attorney can continue to have effect as long as the document is in circulation.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

What does a certification of a signature cost?

A 0.2 fee under KV 25100. For a certification without a draft, a maximum fee of €70 applies, regardless of the value of the underlying transaction; in practice, the amounts are often between €20 and €25. If the notary drafts the text of the power of attorney themselves, that is a separate service to which this cap does not apply – say, therefore, when making the appointment whether you will bring the text yourself.

What is the difference between certification and notarial recording?

In the case of the certification, the notary confirms exclusively that the signature comes from the person identified. They do not examine the content, and the certification says nothing about the capacity to contract. In the case of the notarial recording, the notary reads out the document, advises on its implications, examines the content and documents the capacity to contract. That is considerably more protection – and considerably more effort, which is why a 1.0 fee under KV 21200 is charged for it instead of the 0.2 fee.

When is a certification not enough?

Above all in two cases. First, with powers of attorney used to sell or encumber plots of land – here the notarial recording is the safe route, because a power of attorney that has been inadequately drawn up blocks the entire transaction. Second, with the lasting power of attorney: there, in an emergency, what matters is that the capacity to contract is documented at the time the document was drawn up, and only the notarial recording achieves exactly that. If in doubt, ask beforehand at the body that is to accept the power of attorney.

Do I need an appointment?

For a pure certification of a signature, often not, or only at short notice – many notaries’ offices deal with it promptly, because the process takes only a few minutes. Call in advance nonetheless: practice varies from office to office, and this also lets you find out straight away whether you should bring the text and which documents are needed. For a notarial recording, an appointment is required in any case.

Can someone else sign the power of attorney for me?

No. You sign before the notary or expressly acknowledge a signature already made as your own. That is precisely the point of the certification: it is the personal confirmation that this signature comes from this person. Representation would undo this result. If you cannot attend, speak to the notary’s office about the options – some notaries also carry out notarial recordings away from their offices.

How do I revoke a power of attorney?

Declare the revocation to the authorised representative – and, this is the decisive second step, demand all the documents back. Under § 172 BGB, a power of attorney document that has been produced can continue to have effect against third parties acting in good faith until it is returned or declared invalid. A revocation in which the document remains in circulation therefore protects you only incompletely. Also inform banks and authorities to which the power of attorney has already been presented.

How many execution copies do I need?

More than you might initially think. Banks, Grundbuchämter and authorities regularly require an execution copy – not merely a copy – and often do not return it. If you need to deal with several bodies, take a corresponding number of copies with you straight away; that is considerably easier than requesting them individually later. Ask at the appointment what additional execution copies cost, so you can weigh it up.

Does a power of attorney remain valid after my death?

That depends on the text, and it is one of the points at which self-drafted powers of attorney fail. A power of attorney expressly granted to apply beyond death remains valid and allows the authorised representative to arrange the funeral and ongoing matters without having to wait for the Erbschein – which is extremely valuable in practice. Without such a clause, by contrast, a gap of weeks can easily arise. Raise this point expressly at the appointment; otherwise it is usually forgotten.

Related official procedures

Lasting power of attorney (Vorsorgevollmacht)
Where the notarial recording is worthwhile
From €60
Certification
Also for copies
From €20
Property purchase
Representation in a purchase agreement
2.0 fee

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