Register of Associations – Notifying the dissolution of an association
In certain cases, the executive committee must file for the dissolution of the association. This applies in particular to the dissolution of the association following a resolution passed by the general meeting with the required majority. One reason for this may be, for example, that there are too few members and the association’s purpose can therefore no longer be fulfilled.
Note: If insolvency proceedings are commenced in respect of the association’s assets, this also entails the dissolution of the association. The commencement of insolvency proceedings is automatically entered in the register.
Dissolution is often followed by the liquidation of the association. The general meeting may appoint specific liquidators for the dissolution. Unless specific liquidators are appointed, Section 48 of the German Civil Code (BGB) applies, under which liquidation is carried out by the executive committee. Upon the liquidation of the association, the liquidators and their powers of representation must be entered in the register of associations. The same applies to the winding up of the association following liquidation.
Responsible authority
The local court in whose district the association has its registered office is responsible for maintaining the register of associations
Note: The registers of associations are centralised at the local courts in Freiburg, Mannheim, Stuttgart and Ulm.
You can find the relevant registry court hereby selecting the category ‘Association register matters’ under ‘Subject’ and entering the town or postcode of your association’s registered office.
The websites of the register courts can also be accessed via the following links:
Details
Prerequisite
- The dissolution must be registered by the current Executive Committee, with a quorum present. A single Executive Committee member 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 registration with the Register of Associations.
- The signatures of the persons registering the dissolution must be notarised. Signatures may be notarised by
- a notary, or
- a municipal clerk
This is a specific person within the local authority who has been specially appointed for this role or, in a municipality that has a land registry office, who carries out the duties of that office. They are authorised to notarise the signatures.
Procedure
You must notify the registry court of the dissolution of the association. You may do so in writing or electronically, provided the document is officially certified.
Deadlines
none
Required documents
- Application for the entry of the dissolution in the Register of Associations in a notarised form (known as an application for entry in the Register of Associations)
- Copy of the resolution to wind up the association
- if liquidators have been appointed by resolution of the general meeting: a copy of the resolution appointing them
- where the liquidators’ power of representation deviates from the statutory provisions: a copy of the deed governing this power of representation
Costs
None, provided the organisation serves non-profit or charitable purposes and you can provide evidence of this in the form of a certificate from the tax office.
There may be a charge for certifying the signatures.
Miscellaneous
none
Legal basis
Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB):
- § 42 Insolvenz
- § 74 Eintragung der Auflösung
- § 75 Eintragung bei Insolvenz
- § 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