Execution and Certification of Documents under Hungarian Law from Germany

Unlike in most German federal states, lawyers in Hungary generally perform extensive functions comparable to those of notaries. In the course of doing business in Hungary, you will therefore sooner or later require either a document countersigned by a Hungarian lawyer (ügyvédi ellenjegyzés) or a notarised public instrument (közokirat).

The good news is that you do not need to travel to Hungary. We can handle the entire process for you from Germany.

I. When Is a Document Countersigned by a Lawyer Required for Business in Hungary?

Hungarian law requires certain legal declarations to be made with the involvement of a lawyer or notary. In other cases, although there is no statutory obligation to consult a lawyer or notary, doing so may nevertheless be advisable for practical reasons.

Under Hungarian law, the involvement of a lawyer or notary is currently mandatory in particular for:
• company and commercial register matters; and
• land registry matters.

Typical cases in which the involvement of a lawyer or notary cannot be avoided include:
• incorporating a Hungarian company;
• amending the articles of association of a Hungarian company;
• preparing a specimen signature for the managing director of a Hungarian company;
• representation before the court of registration;
• executing and certifying a real estate purchase agreement; and
• representation before the land registry authority.

In many other matters, Hungarian law also requires certain declarations to be made in the form of a private document having full probative force.

The most common examples include:
• granting a power of attorney for representation before a Hungarian court; and
• making declarations in inheritance proceedings.

II. Our Advantage: Execution and Certification under Hungarian Law in Germany

Experience has shown that many clients from German-speaking countries assume that travelling to Hungary to consult a Hungarian notary or lawyer is unavoidable. This is not the case.

By virtue of our admission as Hungarian lawyers (ügyvéd), we are authorised to execute and certify documents under Hungarian law in Germany and Austria.

We can prepare the required declarations directly in Hungarian, allowing you to avoid cumbersome certified translations and additional formalities. As with a German notary, the document may also be read and explained to you in German, ensuring that you fully understand its contents and do not sign anything incorrectly.
Following execution, we affix the necessary stamps and certifications. As a result, the documents prepared by us must be recognised by the competent authorities and courts in Hungary.
Would you also prefer to avoid dealing personally with Hungarian authorities afterwards? That is no problem. We can represent you before all competent public authorities, administrative bodies and courts in Hungary.
How long does the process take? The execution and certification itself usually takes only around half an hour. The documents can then be transmitted electronically to the Hungarian authorities within seconds through the electronic communication systems we have used for many years when dealing with Hungarian authorities and courts.
We can also prepare electronically certified copies of documents for you. This means that you do not need to worry about losing the original document. We assume responsibility for the secure handling of the documentation. Even if you lose an electronic copy or accidentally delete it from your computer, we can provide you with a further certified electronic copy at any time.

Would you like to use original German-language documents in Hungary? This is also possible. We can prepare electronically certified copies of such documents and, upon request, arrange for a certified translation that is recognised in Hungary.

Contact us by telephone!