Notary Fees

Our cost system is carefully balanced. It also means that notaries perform many official duties without charging a fee that covers their costs. This is offset by the fact that they charge higher fees for large transactions.

By linking notary fees to the value of the transaction and thus to the financial capacity of the parties involved, everyone can make use of notarial services regardless of their financial circumstances and the complexity of the matter.

Notarial cost law has another advantage for you as a citizen: our advice, including drafting, is included in the notarisation fee. There are therefore no separate costs for this.

A comprehensive study by Harvard University on the cost structure of real estate transactions has shown that notaries in Germany not only guarantee a high degree of legal certainty, but are also very affordable by international standards.

Value-based fees. The amount of the notary's fees is based exclusively on the significance and value of the transaction and not on the amount of work involved for the notary. The nationwide uniform Court and Notary Fees Act (GNotKG) stipulates a specific fee rate for each official act performed by the notary. Based on the respective fee rate, the specific fee is calculated according to the fee scale, which depends on the value of the transaction. The notarisation fee covers comprehensive advice from the notary, the drafting of the document and the notarisation itself.

Fee rate. For unilateral declarations, the full fee (1.0) must be charged; for contracts and resolutions, the double fee (2.0) applies. For the notary's support and execution activities, the fee rate is often 0.5. 

Transaction value. The GNotKG specifies how the transaction value for the fee calculation is to be determined. For example, in the case of a purchase contract, this is usually the purchase price; in the case of general powers of attorney, it is the gross assets of the principal; and in the case of wills, it is the net assets of the testator, whereby debts are only deductible up to a maximum of half of the assets.

Business review. The subject of regular business reviews by the president of the regional court or the audit department of the notary fund is also the proper calculation of costs. In the event of irregularities, the notary is obliged to demand additional fees or refund fees. Incorrect value statements by the parties involved are punishable by law.

Sample calculations. Notarial deeds often have tangible cost advantages: for example, a will certified by a notary usually replaces the certificate of inheritance that would otherwise be required. However, the certificate of inheritance ultimately costs almost twice as much as the notary's advice, drafting and notarisation of the will. Notaries not only provide professional advice on inheritance, bequests and partition orders, but also draw up a public document with special probative value. This ensures that the last will and testament does not disappear and can be found in the event of death.

Fees for drafting a deed are only charged if the notary does not notarise it. If a third party, e. g. a solicitor, drafts a will, the usual notarisation fee is also charged in this case.

On the information portal of the Federal Chamber of Notaries you will find  https://www.notar.de/themen/notarkosten/beispiele.
Please note that other expenses may arise in individual cases. The calculation examples listed there only cover typical, albeit carefully compiled, case constellations. No claims can therefore be derived against the individual notary or the Federal Chamber of Notaries for inadvertent errors in the calculation examples.