Serviceportal–Baden-Württemberg
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Procedure descriptions
Register of Associations – Registering liquidators of an association
If an association is dissolved, this is normally followed by liquidation. During liquidation, the association’s affairs are wound up. If necessary,
- ongoing business is concluded, and
- outstanding debts are recovered,
- the association’s assets are realised,
- the association’s debts are settled,
- tax obligations are met and
- any surplus paid out to the entitled parties.
Liquidation does not take place if the association’s assets revert to the state by virtue of the articles of association or by law. If insolvency proceedings have been opened in respect of the association’s assets, these proceedings take precedence. If the association still has assets remaining after the conclusion of the insolvency proceedings, liquidation will also take place.
In most cases, the association’s executive committee is responsible for the liquidation. The general meeting may instead appoint special liquidators for this task. If your association’s articles of association contain specific provisions regarding the appointment of liquidators – for example, concerning their qualifications or the requirement that they be members of the association – these must be observed. The liquidators must be entered in the register of associations. They are vested with the power of representation. The executive committee must notify the local civil court of the scope of this power of representation when registering the liquidators.
Responsible authority
The local court (register court) in whose district the association has its registered office is responsible for maintaining the register of associations
Note: The maintenance of the register of associations is centralised at the local courts in Freiburg, Mannheim, Stuttgart and Ulm.
You can find the relevant registry court here by selecting the category ‘Association register matters’ under ‘Subject’ and entering the town or postcode of your association’s registered office.
The websites of the registry courts can also be accessed via the following links:
Details
Prerequisite
The application must be submitted by members of the executive committee who are authorised to represent the association. A single member of the executive committee is sufficient if, under the association’s articles of association, that member is authorised to represent the association alone. If the association can only be represented jointly by several or even all members of the executive committee, this also applies to the application for entry in the register of associations.
The signatures of the persons registering the liquidators must be certified. Signatures may be certified by
- a notary, or
- a municipal registrar. This is a specific official within the local authority who has been specially appointed for this role or, in the case of a local authority that operates a land registry office, who carries out the duties of that office. They are authorised to certify signatures publicly.
Should any changes arise at a later date (for example, regarding the persons appointed as liquidators or their powers of representation), the liquidators must report these changes.
Procedure
The liquidators and their powers of representation must be entered in the register of associations. The association’s executive committee must register them with the registry court. It may do so in writing or electronically, provided the document is officially certified.
Deadlines
none
Required documents
Registration of the liquidators:
- a publicly certified declaration by the board members making the registration
- if appointed by the general meeting: a copy of the general meeting’s resolution appointing them
Changes to the liquidators or their powers of representation:
- a publicly certified declaration by the liquidators making the notification
Costs
None, provided the organisation serves charitable or benevolent purposes and you can provide evidence of this in the form of a certificate from the tax office.
You may incur costs for the certification.
Miscellaneous
none
Legal basis
Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB):
- § 47 Liquidation
- § 48 Liquidatoren
- § 49 Aufgaben der Liqudatoren
- § 50 Bekanntmachung des Vereins in Liquidation
- § 74 Eintragung der Auflösung
- § 76 Eintragung der Liquidatoren
- § 77 Form der Anmeldungen
Landesjustizkostengesetz (LJKG):
- § 7 Absatz 2 Gebührenfreiheit
Nummer 13101 der Anlage 1 des Kostenverzeichnisses zum Gesetz über Kosten der freiwilligen Gerichtsbarkeit für Gerichte und Notare (GNotKG)
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Justizministerium Baden-Württemberg, 15.06.2026